Creating Jobs

by Janet Ford, Deborah Quilgars, and Julie Rugg

Published 1 April 1998
Social care markets, and the growth of independent sector provision, raise a question about the likely expansion of employment opportunities. Using three case-study areas, this report looks at the extent and nature of employment within domiciliary care, and identifies two labour markets broadly differentiated by pay, training provision and supervision. The study explores how these conditions result from factors such as market competition, purchasers' decisions, the feminization of care work, unionisation, and budgetary pressures. A survey and interviews with domiciliary care workers indicates their strong commitment to caring despite sometimes poor employment conditions. The report discusses the likely future demand for domiciliary care workers. The research should interest providers, purchasers and policy makers and raises issues concerning regulation, service standards, recruitment and retention of staff as well as the long-term viability of the care market.

A Life in the Community

by Deborah Quilgars

Published 17 September 1998
It is widely recognized that people with mental health problems often face great difficulties in securing good quality housing and support. Home Link was developed in 1995 to cope with this very problem, and this book evaluates whether it presents an appropriate model for providing support to people with mental health problems in the community.