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Peter Beresford

September 2008

Care is a contentious policy concept, and in 2008 there was significant discussion of planned ‘radical’ changes to care policy to increase choice and control through ‘personalisation’. This paper explores the need for a new conceptual framework to take forward care policy and practice so that people’s rights and needs are to be met. This paper explores the origins of social care and the downgrading and commodification of the practice by governments and policy-makers. It particularly addresses the emergence of ‘informal’ carers, and the need to formalise those relationships so those carers, often friends and family of the person receiving their care, are provided with proper support. The paper also investigates the pressure for change to the care system, and potential new models for the future of care.
In partnership/with support of: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
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