Adult green paper could add to blame culture

The social care sector must prepare itself to be blamed if service
users make the wrong decisions when the adult green paper’s
personal choice regime comes into force, a conference has heard,
writes Simeon Brody from Hatfield.
 
Support providers or members of staff may have to face screaming
newspaper headlines if damaging consequences, such as a serious
accident, result from the way a client has used their personal
budget, the National Housing Federation housing, care and support
conference in Hatfield heard yesterday.
 
David Wolverson, chief executive of learning disability provider
New Dimensions Group, said people had to be given the opportunity
to try things and fail. But he added: “In the blame culture
who is going to take that blame? The provider or the member of
staff? Are we going to get sued?”
 
Wolverson welcomed the green paper as an opportunity to
“overturn the established power structures” in the
sector but questioned how it would fit with the Gershon efficiency
savings.
 
“How does strategic commissioning fit in with this
personalised approach?” he asked.