Resource allocation priorities in social care for adults with a learning disability: an analysis and comparison of different stakeholder perspectives
Abstract
Purpose
How resources for social care are allocated to individual service users has long been a concern. There are debates regarding the priority given to certain needs in Resource Allocation Systems (RASs). The purpose of this paper is to compare the views of adults with a learning disability and Directors of Adult Social Care regarding their priorities for resource allocation with priorities arising from observed resource allocation decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
In a consultation workshop, 12 adults with learning disabilities were asked to rank the perceived importance of eight needs-related outcomes. Directors of Adult Social Care completed an online questionnaire concerning the distribution of resources across the same eight outcomes. Actual resource allocation data from 11 local authorities were also modelled against these outcomes. A variable importance metric (the percentage contribution of each outcome to predicting costs) was used to rank the importance of these outcomes in terms of determining actual resource allocation. Findings from these data collections were compared.
Findings
There were discrepancies between the views of adults with a learning disability, the perspectives of Directors and actual resource allocation data. Whereas adults with a learning disability perceived psychological well-being as most important, Directors and actual resource allocation data stressed the importance of activities of daily living and carer burden.
Originality/value
This analysis will prove useful in understanding the concerns of adults with a learning disability and whether these are adequately addressed by current RASs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), School for Social Care Research (Grant Reference No. T976/EM/Man1). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, local authorities, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The views of adults with a learning disability were collected in collaboration with the voluntary organisations OSCA and Taking Part, agencies providing advocacy services for people with learning disabilities. Secondary data used in this analysis were provided by FACE Recording and Measurement Systems.
Citation
Davies, S., Clarkson, P., Hughes, J., Stewart, K., Xie, C., Saunders, R. and Challis, D. (2015), "Resource allocation priorities in social care for adults with a learning disability: an analysis and comparison of different stakeholder perspectives", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 199-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-02-2015-0009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited