Major new report outlines the increasing crisis in social care
Release | 26.03.15
The Centre for Welfare Reform has published a major new report on the state of adult social care. Written by independent academic Robin Jackson, the report, 'Who Cares?', provides an overview of the whole system - particularly as it affects people with learning disabilities (or intellectual disabilities).
Jackson argues that the current system is unsustainable, and heading in the wrong direction.
The increasing commodification of care is leading to deeply unattractive forms of micro-institutionalisation where people are left isolated and cut-off from human relationships and full and meaningful lives.
At the same time the economics do not add up. Government has cut adult social care by 30% in just 4 years and many of the commercial organisations upon which the sector now depends are struggling to survive as their profit levels are squeezed. Charities, who used to advocate for people, instead behave more like the organisations with which they compete for business.
It is highly likely that we will see further reductions in the number and quality of service providers. The report calls for a radical rethink in our priorities and challenges charities and policy-makers to take a fresh look at where we are going.
Dr Simon Duffy, Director of The Centre for Welfare Reform said:
"We are pleased to publish this powerful and independent review of social care. It is challenging, but compelling. A few years ago such a report may have seemed alarmist; but after 5 years - in which we have seen people with learning disabilities targeted for cuts in income and support - we have to recognise its truth. Social care cannot continue in its current form. It is not, and never should be, treated as a market; and people should never be treated as goods, simply to be traded to the lowest bidder."
The report, 'Who Cares?', is available to read here: http://bit.ly/care-crisis
In addition to the report Robin Jackson has also published a short essay providing an overview of his case:
