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BJSW Advance Access originally published online on December 11, 2006
British Journal of Social Work 2008 38(5):918-935; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcl373
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Everything Must Go? The Privatization of State Social Work

Malcolm Carey

Malcolm Carey is a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. His research interests include the cultural dimensions of state social work as a labour process, particularly the impact of privatization, deskilling and managerialism upon organizational identity and change, as well as worker morale, belief systems and practice. He completed his Ph.D. at Liverpool University in 2004, following prior degrees in social anthropology and social work, in both London and Cardiff. He also worked for many years with vulnerable adults, in unqualified and qualified posts.

Correspondence to Dr Malcolm Carey, School of Social Work, Liverpool John Moores University, Henry Cotton Campus, 15–21 Webster Street, Liverpool L3 2ET. E-mail: M.Carey{at}livjmu.ac.uk


  Abstract

This paper considers the transformation of state social work over the past two decades. During this period, it is argued that a steady yet radical process of privatization has ensued which has had a considerable impact upon the experiences of ‘service users’, informal carers and social work practitioners. Not only does the private sector now dominate key sectors of social care, but it has also transformed the culture of state social work practice and many of the accepted beliefs and ideals of the social work profession. It is also argued that many of the promises made about privatization, including that it would create a more efficient and effective structure for the delivery of social care,1 have never materialized. On the contrary it is suggested that the current organization of social care is highly bureaucratic, exploits labour and is deeply ineffective at responding to the needs of vulnerable adults and children. Finally, it is proposed that, as a political project, the privatization of state social work is far from complete, and further radical reforms appear likely.

Keywords: quasi-markets, care/case management, social care industry, privatization


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