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Can individual budgets have an impact on carers and the caring role?

Jones, Karen C., Netten, Ann, Rabiee, Parvaneh, Glendinning, Caroline, Arksey, Hilary, Moran, Nicola (2012) Can individual budgets have an impact on carers and the caring role? Ageing and Society, . pp. 1-19. ISSN 0144-686X. (doi:10.1017/S0144686X12000748) (KAR id:35254)

Abstract

The introduction of cash-for-care schemes such as individual or personal budgets in England has been seen as central to the personalisation agenda for reforming the delivery of adult social care. However, despite there being 5.2 million carers in England and Wales, the initiative concentrates predominantly on the needs of the service user. The implementation of individual budgets (IBs) was piloted within 13 local authorities during 2005–2007 and the Department of Health commissioned an independent evaluation of this pilot (IBSEN). The focus was only on the service user in the evaluation and therefore a separate but linked study was set up to evaluate the impact and outcomes of IBs on carers. Carers of service users who had consented to take part in the main IBSEN study were identified and invited to participate in a follow-up study aimed at exploring how IBs impacted on carers and the caring role. The study found that the receipt of the budget was significantly associated with positive impacts on carers' reported quality of life and, when other factors were taken into account, with social care outcomes. These outcome gains were achieved despite no higher costs being incurred to the public purse, thus suggesting that IBs for service users are cost-effective for carers.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0144686X12000748
Uncontrolled keywords: older people; carers
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Depositing User: R. Bass
Date Deposited: 17 Sep 2013 10:52 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/35254 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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