New research reveals impact to the workforce of personalised social care services
By Engage

The development of ‘personalised’ social care services can benefit individuals through greater choice, control and empowerment.

However, new research commissioned by the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit (VSSSWU) and conducted by the Scottish Centre for Employment Research at the University of Strathclyde, suggests that there are significant implications for the workers who provide these services, including changes to working hours and flexibility, the acquisition of new skills, the development of a more casualised workforce, and the potential fragmentation of pay and conditions away from collective terms.

The research also found that, while enthusiastic about the potential benefits of personalisation, policy makers and social care providers expressed concerns that it could become a mechanism for cost-cutting rather than service improvement.

The resulting report ‘The Personalisation agenda: implications for work and employment’, released last month by the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit, was welcomed by the SSSC.

Chief Executive, Anna Fowlie, said:  “This is a very helpful and timely report on an issue which is increasingly important for service users, employers and workers alike.  Personalisation brings real opportunities for people who use social services to live independently, on more equal terms.”

Dr Ian Cunningham, of Strathclyde Business School, said: “Our research found that front-line staff and managers were generally enthusiastic about the principles of personalisation, and welcomed opportunities to develop their skills. However, there was considerable anxiety about job security, and the impact that deteriorating terms and conditions can have on worker morale. ”

Judith Midgley, Director of the Voluntary Sector Workforce Unit, said: “ Rolling out personalised services will rely on the commitment, skills and enthusiasm of the existing workforce. The challenge for policy makers and organisations is to ensure that the opportunities it offers for greater job satisfaction outweigh concerns about working conditions”.

To obtain a copy of the report, follow this link to the Voluntary Sector Social Services Workforce Unit website.