Charging for Social Care: A Study of Consumer Charges and the Personal Social Services

In the 1970s, consumer charges were widely used for residential accommodation, day care, and domiciliary services. Charging for Social Care, published in 1980, examined the use of these charges in the personal social services and provided a theoretical framework for pricing policies. It is still of interest to students, teachers, policy makers, social workers, and those with an interest in the personal social services and public spending decisions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Despite the widespread assumption that social services were solely allocated based on client needs and could therefore be directly contrasted with the operation of the private market, a significant number of services remained for which the consumer had to pay directly at the time of consumption during the 1970s. Consumer charges were widely employed for various purposes, such as residential accommodations, day care services, and domiciliary services.

In 1980, Charging for Social Care emerged as a groundbreaking publication that provided a comprehensive examination of the use of these charges in the personal social services. Authored by Ken Judge and James Matthews, this seminal work delved into the historical origins, current operation, and social and financial significance of consumer charges. It went beyond the mere rhetoric that had previously characterized discussions about charges, offering a detailed and insightful analysis based on a report for the Department of Health and Social Security.

This book remains of immense interest to students and teachers of social policy and social administration, policy makers in both central and local government, students of the economics of social policy and the public sector, social workers, and anyone with a keen interest in the personal social services and public spending decisions. It offers a valuable theoretical framework for determining pricing policies and provides a clear roadmap for pricing personal social services in the future.

By undertaking this comprehensive analysis, Judge and Matthews have surpassed the limitations of previous discussions and shed light on the complex dynamics of consumer charges in the personal social services. Their work serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike, contributing to our understanding of this important aspect of social policy and public spending.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032055497