The future of personalisation

There are a number of practical reforms which were developed within the social care system and which are slowly spreading across that system under the banner of the term 'personalisation'. These reforms are technological innovations whose primary purpose is to increase the power and dignity of people using social care; however, it is possible that these innovations could be extended to other areas of the welfare state. In particular, personalisation may change (a) support to people with complex needs, (b) healthcare and the boundary between health and social care, (c) education, (d) the role of local government, and (e) the tax and benefit system. But there is nothing inevitable about this shift in practice and the current policy framework does not guarantee the normalisation of these new approaches.