Trust, Transparency and Welfare: Third-Sector Adult Social Care Delivery and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK

Paul Chaney,Christala Sophocleous

doi:10.3390/jrfm14120572

Abstract

Since the move to quasi-federalism in the 1990s, different territorial welfare mixes on adult social care (ASC) have emerged in the four nations of the UK. This study explores policy actors’ views on their effectiveness in the pandemic with reference to the role of institutions, trust and transparency. The analysis is based on extensive secondary data analysis and primary interviews with key individuals involved in the delivery and regulation of ASC. The findings highlight how the pandemic exposed existing pathologies and the need for reform in all four systems. Notably, the analysis shows how the present market-based tendering systems for allocating ASC contracts undermine inter-personal and institutional trust and compromise care quality. The wider significance of this lies in showing the pivotal role of trust during the emergency and that post-pandemic welfare reform needs to embed trust-building measures to deliver effective care.

Highlights

Since the move to quasi-federalism, different territorial welfare mixes on adult social care delivery have emerged in the four nations of the UK
This section is structured to consider each territory in turn and examine policy actors’ views on the response to adult social care (ASC) delivery in the pandemic
Policy actors referred to how, “the voluntary sector played an invaluable role in sharing essential messages to communities and the people they support, at the outset of the pandemic” (Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru 2021, para 47)

Summary

Introduction

Since the move to quasi-federalism, different territorial welfare mixes on adult social care delivery have emerged in the four nations of the UK. Local government social services departments issue contracts to provide ASC to local communities. Care providers are either in the state sector (employed by local government), work for private sector companies operating for profit, or belong to not-for-profit bodies in the third (or voluntary) sector. Definitions of the latter are contested (cf Salamon and Anheier 1998). It is sometimes referred to as the community sector Such organisations may deliver ASC through voluntary activities and/or they may secure state funding to supplement their voluntary service provision with paid employees

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion