1. AFFORDING QUALITY IN SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Issues and possible ways forward

2. CONTEXT
Quality in SS is an even bigger issue now e.g. domiciliary care
Naturally there are differences across the EU e.g. Eastern Europe
Personal experience with NGO
Quality does not always cost more
Quality - fixed (absolute) or relative?
The Personalisation agenda in SS. Quality for all, not just people paying for their SS

3. THE QUALITY DRIVE
Period of economic growth and personal prosperity = expectations of higher quality in goods and services in all sectors
Standards and regulation
Increased emphasis on citizens’ rights
The move of SS from marginal to mainstream
SS markets and effect of competition
Formal requirements of commissioners
Effect of personal budgets

4. COST PRESSURES
Markets and competition. Contracts to cheapest bidders. Threat to quality?
Severe constraints on government funding at all levels – budget deficits & longer term effect on public expenditure
Reductions in funding for SS from non-government sources e.g. private companies

5. AFFORDING QUALITY IN SS
Innovation, radicalism & focus on outcomes
Strategy to accelerate externalising of (all?) publicly provided SS e.g. LATC’s
The supermarket approach? Different levels of quality
Even more cost-efficiency! E.g. more alternatives to costly residential care – but dangers
Rationing – reduce eligibility for publicly funded SS

6. AFFORDING QUALITY IN SS (2)
6) Diversify funding sources i.e. increase types and amounts non-gov. funding
Alternatives to labour intensive (costly) SS e.g. ‘Telecare’, self-assessment
Change to ‘reablement’ – short term intensive support rather than long term (more expensive) domiciliary service