The potential negative impact upon the ‘life chances’ of young people of extensive privatisation within social care in the UK

Carey, M (2021) The potential negative impact upon the ‘life chances’ of young people of extensive privatisation within social care in the UK. Youth & Policy. ISSN 2057-4266

Text (word document) privatisationyounpeoplearticlehope.docx - Accepted Version Download (33kB)

Abstract

Private sector ownership and control of support services for looked after children (LAC) and young people in care (YPIC) within England, Wales, and most parts of the United Kingdom (UK) now dominate provision and control within social care. As is well versed in supporting studies, the past thirty-five years have witnessed a momentous and relatively swift transfer of ownership from the public to private sectors within social care (Harris, 2003; Jordan and Drakeford, 2012). Among other outcomes, this has led to much more fragmentation of provision, an abundance of often inefficient and expensive outsourcing and the commissioning of support services, alongside the transformation of previous roles for local authorities (LA’s), associate professionals, and key staff such as social workers. A discursive and ethical privileging of business and contractual ideals has led also to embedded structural and geographical inconsistencies forming regarding the quality and efficacy of care provision for LAC and YPIC. Some evidence also suggests that many children are becoming ‘invisible’ within largely bureaucratic, risk averse, and ever more forensic care proceedings and fragmented networks of support (for example, Ferguson, 2017; Green and Moran, 2021). Moreover, the traditionally diminished ‘life chances’ of many young people in long-term care appear to be depreciating further, particularly those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, including disabled children and young adults who seek asylum (Morris, 2005; Petrie, 2015; Humphris and Sigona, 2017). This article seeks to briefly offer some context and analyse privatisation in relation to its potential negative impact upon the life chances of children and young people in care.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information and Comments:	This is the author's version of an article that was published in Youth and Policy. The final version is available from: https://www.youthandpolicy.org/articles/the-potential-impact-of-extensive-privatisation-in-the-uk-upon-the-life-chances-of-young-people-in-care/
Keywords:	privatisation; life chances; children in care.
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Education and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Malcolm Carey
Date Deposited:	08 Nov 2022 14:29
Last Modified:	08 Nov 2022 14:29
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/3674

Actions (login required)

View Item