BASW Conference: Care cuts dressed as personalisation

A motion from BASW’s Black Country branch expressing “major concerns” about cuts in services under cover of the personalisation agenda also received overwhelming support. 

Branch member Richard Servian accused local authorities of misusing personalisation to justify cutbacks, adding that BASW had an important role in highlighting councils that are being “dishonest”. Moving the motion, which received the backing of 95% of delegates, Mr Servian told the event: “Cutbacks are already hitting local authorities and in my own area several organisations employing social workers have already having their budgets cut for the next two years. There are real concerns in the Black Country that older people’s homes are being cut through misusing the personalisation agenda – money saved isn’t being used for personalisation but for budget savings.”

Ruth Cartwright, BASW country manager, said she knew of one local authority where redundancies were planned whose senior manager was unaware that social workers have a role in adult safeguarding. “We will need the help of members if we’re to find out what is going on out there,” she added.