BJSW Advance Access published online on March 27, 2009
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp038
Increasing Care Options in the Countryside: Developing an Understanding of the Potential Impact of Personalization for Social Work with Rural Older People
Jill Manthorpe is professor of social work at King's College London and Director of the Social Care Workforce Research Unit. She was a member of the IBSEN team, evaluating the pilot individual budgets pilots in England. Her research interests centre on workforce issues, older people and social care services; risk, adult safeguarding and mental health in later life. Martin Stevens is research fellow at the Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London. He has worked in social care and in local government research. Martin is Chair of the Social Services Research Group and has particular interest in research ethics and methodologies. He was a member of the IBSEN evaluation team and has undertaken a range of work on policy implementation.
Correspondence to Jill Manthorpe, Professor of Social Work, Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King's College London, Strand, London WC2, UK. E-mail: Jill.manthorpe{at}kcl.ac.uk
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The article examines the possible impact of the personalization of social care services in England on older people living in rural areas and those supporting them in formal and informal roles. It focuses on the development of personal budgets. Interviews were conducted with 33 participants from professional, community and voluntary organizations in 2008. Findings were that the potential flexibility arising from choice and control might be much appreciated by some older people in rural areas; however there were concerns that local variations would affect the capacity to tailor support and to sustain developments. The long-term effects of personalization need to be monitored and assessed to ensure equitable outcomes in rural areas; and, while there may not be significant differences between rural and urban areas, the rural dimensions of adult social care need to be more rigorously explored.
Keywords: rural services, older people, personal budgets, social work