Personalisation, brokerage and service users: Time to take stock

Abstract

Taking as its starting point government moves to mainstream 'personalisation' in social care and associated interest in service brokerage and brokers, this paper examines two key issues from a service-user perspective. These are how service users are to be enabled to access more person-centred support, based on the values of 'independent living' and how this is to be possible for the diverse range of long-term health and social care service users. It draws on the experience of a national, service-user organisation and network, the work of the National Development Team and recent developments and findings in personalisation and 'self-directed support'. It highlights the importance of effective user involvement to take such developments forward effectively and inclusively and the key role that user-controlled organisations will need to play in making this possible.