Austerity, personalisation and older people: the prospects for creative social work practice in England

Abstract

In common with other European countries population ageing in England creates particular problems for social care and social work. This is exacerbated by the continuing financial crisis, which has led to an unprecedented assault on the resources needed to maintain older people within the community. At the same time, a policy of ‘personalisation’ is being introduced within social care that is intended to change the nature and balance of services. The effect of financial cuts means that there is substantially less money to respond to people's needs, despite the demographic changes that indicate there will be an increasing number of vulnerable older people in society. As a result the need for stringent rationing of resources will continue to be a priority, as it has been for many years. This has particular implications for the development of social work practice with older people: there are distinct possibilities that it will reduce in size and scale. This is despite the international recognition that has been given to the specific circumstances of older people, as well as social work's commitment to challenge injustice. If the needs of older people in England are to be more effectively addressed the implications of these factors needs to be considered and strategies for the full engagement of social workers within them need to be agreed.

Keywords:

• older people
• austerity
• personalisation
• social work