The real value of personalisation is being lost in empty rhetoric and conceptual confusion. Local government needs to retake the initiative.

1. Decoding Personalisation
for the real world
Dr Simon Duffy ￭ The Centre for Welfare
Reform
￭ 14th January 2013 ￭ Presentation for Solihull

2. Dr Simon Duffy
•Social innovator - e.g. personal budgets
•Philosopher - work on citizenship
•Advisor - Campaign for a Fair Society
The Centre for Welfare ReformReform does not
mean cuts and inequalityWelfare state is good, but
designed wrongNeeds more innovation, andRespect
for citizenship, families, community & justice
•Reform does not mean cuts and inequalityWelfare
state is good, but designed wrongNeeds more
innovation, andRespect for citizenship, families,
community & justice

3. 4 messages
1.Good leaders will need to look past
the rhetoric at reality
2.Local government is under threatWe
radically underestimate the capacity
of citizens
3.We need new solutions and better
alliances at the local level

4. Reality 1: Cuts, cuts, cuts

5. Reality 2: Targeted cuts

9. Reality 3: Centralism, not localism

10. Reality 4: The centre taxes the local

11. Reality 5: You can’t buy community

12. Personalisation: 4 versions
1.A more acceptable way of
describing consumerist reform?
2.A bundle of government policies?
New system - self-directed support?
3.Awareness of the need for more
fundamental reform?

13. Personalisation:
self-directed support - a short history

15. From Professional Gift to Citizenship

22. Respect innovation

23. Personalisation today:
1.Is it a fixed process, defined by
government or is it an open process
demanding far higher levels of
innovation?
2.Is it a technical fix that just
increases VFM or does it require a
fundamental rethink of how the
welfare state is designed?

24. Six themes
1.Citizenship works
2.Families and civil society work
3.Relationships work
4.Identity works
5.Local works
6.Current system design doesn’t

33. Path 1: develop humility & seek partnership

39. Wards 40
Av Pop 1,700
Over 65 376 22.1%
15 and under 308 18.1%
Misusing drugs/alcohol 14 0.8%
Limiting long-term illness 383 22.5%
Children with SEN Statements 7 0.4%
In private homes (including private rental) 1,365 80.3%
In poor health 181 10.6%
Deaths in year 20 1.2%
Crimes in a year 88 5.2%
Looked after children 2 0.1%
Use Social Care 78 4.6%
Working age on relying on benefits 177 10.4%
Children Social Care Budget £60,000 £6,666
Adult Social Care Budget £490,000 £6,282

41. 1. Human rights - not just services
2. Clear entitlements - not confusion
3. Early support - not crisis
4. Equal access - not institutional care
5. Choice & control - not dependence
6. Fair incomes - not insecurity
7. Fair taxes - not injustice
8. Financial reform - sustainable

43. Final thoughts
1.Truth is our friend - rhetoric and
misinformation is dangerous
2.‘Working for the centre’ does not
workLocal government needs to
develop its own story
3.Practical citizenship and community
development is key