Personalisation and Innovation in a Cold Financial Climate

There aremany drivers for change and innovation in adult social care andone of themost significant is thepersonalisationagenda;however,whilst resourcesarealways limited, this does have its roots in a more relaxed financial climate than currently prevails. This article drawsonfindingsfromascopingstudywhichaimedto identifyfutureareasfor researchto assist councils in developing and commissioning personalised services. Twenty local au-thorities were surveyed and in three case study areas, interviews and focus groups con-ducted with staff and service users to explore progress with personalisation and identify innovative practice. Although, at the time of the study, the impact of resource reductions had yet to be felt, budget cuts were seen as a potential impediment to future develop-ments. The innovative practice identified demonstrated approaches to tackling some of the challengesof personalising social care anda commitment frompractitioners and com-missioners tofindwaystodothis.However, it remainstobeseenwhetherthecoldfinancial climate results in a top-downprescriptive approach to personalisation or leads to local in-novation to enable people to make decisions about their needs