Problematising ‘Fused Principles’ in Discourses of Preventative Social Care: Interpreting the Implementation of National Social Services Legislation in Wales, UK

Simon Read*, Fiona Verity, Mark Llewellyn, Sion Tetlow, Jonathan Richards

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Prevention is a core principle in social care legislation across the UK. However, history shows great variability in how a preventative social care agenda is conceptualised and implemented. We report findings from an independent evaluation of the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 incorporating a document analysis of reports and plans from Wales’ 22 local authorities, and 88 qualitative interviews from social services strategic leaders and operational managers within four Welsh local authorities. Analysis highlighted multiple interpretations of national policy, with notable overlapping agendas. In Gramscian terms, there is a constant process of negotiating prevention values and agendas, with consequences for whose interests are served. This was apparent through drives towards cost-saving, financial sustainability and reduced service demand operating alongside values-based principles rooted in well-being and mutualism. Following Kenny’s work in community development, we argue a ‘fusing’ of principles while espousing benefits for service users, potentially blurs the aims of the legislation, with implications for practice.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberbcad125
Number of pages21
JournalBritish Journal of Social Work
Volume00
Issue number00
Early online date27 Apr 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 27 Apr 2023

Keywords

  • Care economics
  • financial austerity
  • fused discourses
  • prevention
  • social care
  • social policy

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