Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Economies and diseconomies of scale in residential services for people with ID

Mansell, Jim (2008) Economies and diseconomies of scale in residential services for people with ID. In: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 52 (8-9). p. 755. Wiley (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01092.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:15517)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01092.x

Abstract

Aims: Beliefs about economies of scale dominate discussion about the design of residential services for people with intellectual disabilities. This paper explores the nature of economies and diseconomies of scale and evaluates the available evidence.

Methods: The paper examines the logic of economies of scale and how they might apply in human services. It notes that there are very wide unexplained variations in costs of residential services of the same type. It identifies the limitations of economies of scale and the conflicts between economy and the purpose of providing supported accommodation. It evaluates available evidence about economies and diseconomies of scale in the light of this critique.

Results: Revenue costs are heavily influenced by staffing levels, so that apparent economies of scale often actually involve reduced assistance for the people served; and that the goals of residential services cannot all be met if scale economies are pursued.

Conclusions: The paper concludes that clarity of service goals and their operationalization in terms of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities offers a more useful basis for service planning than pursuing alleged optimal size of residential units.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Paper)
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01092.x
Additional information: Meeting Abstract
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Maureen Cook
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2010 15:37 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/15517 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Mansell, Jim.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.