Community Work

Abstract

In this chapter it is almost as if we come full circle. The text started with a consideration of the principles of care management which were introduced as a result of government policy on care in the community. That policy, however, has been subject to all sorts of criticism, namely that it is care by the community, not in the community. The implication of this is that statutory organisations have been relieved of the responsibility (and the cost) of caring for people in need, and that relatives, friends, volunteer organisations and individual volunteers will take on the caring responsibilities. As we saw in Chapters 2 and 3, these policy changes have created changes in the roles and tasks of statutory social workers who are becoming commissioners of services provided by individuals and groups. Much of this activity has been framed in terms of ‘market’ activity, but as was argued in Care Management (Orme and Glastonbury, 1993) for care management to operate properly there needs to be a whole set of activities around ensuring not only that needs are understood, but also that individuals, groups and organisations within communities are prepared and able to provide the facilities.