Budgets

With the continued implementation of the personalisation policy, Personal Budgets (PBs) have moved to the mainstream in adult social care in England. The relationship between the policy goals of personalisation and safeguarding is contentious. Some have argued that PBs have the potential to empower recipients, while others believe PBs, especially Direct Payments, might increase the risk of abuse.

This chapter sets out the policy and research contexts for the study. It first summarises the individual budget pilot projects and locates these within the wider context of policy initiatives aimed at giving disabled and older people greater choice and control over their support arrangements. It then summarises the somewhat separate development of policies and practice aimed at identifying and meeting the needs of informal and family carers.

Thousands of young carers and their families could lose more than £3,500 a year under proposed welfare reforms, according to The Children’s Society.