Measuring and monitoring outputs in social care: the problem of measuring quality

Malley, Juliette and Netten, Ann (2008) Measuring and monitoring outputs in social care: the problem of measuring quality. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 74 (4). pp. 535-553. ISSN 0020-8523 . (The full text of this publication is not available from this repository)

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Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020852308098467

Abstract

The focus of this article is the measurement of quality within the context of a new approach to measuring government-funded social care services. The approach builds on principles set out in a UK review led by Professor Sir Tony Atkinson. At its heart are the concepts of capacity for benefit, describing the potential benefit to users from services, and quality, reflecting the extent to which the benefit is realized. We report on a study designed to explore the suitability of a weighted user satisfaction measure to measure quality, examining in particular its sensitivity to changes in the quality of social care over time. The study finds some problems with using weighted user satisfaction. We discuss potential reasons for these problems, including the possibility of gaming and the specification of the measure, and discuss a way forward in the context of the requirement to draw upon routine sources of data.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled keywords:	government outputs; output measurement; quality; social care
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Social Policy Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Depositing User:	Rosalyn Bass
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2009 10:34
Last Modified:	23 Apr 2014 16:01
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/15494 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)