Abstract
In welfare systems in which key elements are rather centralized, with somewhat limited local discretion, control or responsibility, arrangements for childcare and the support of frail, sick or disabled older people operate rather differently, with different effects and outcomes. In this chapter, the focus is on Leeds in England, where welfare legislation gives central government significant powers and responsibilities for shaping the structures and policies in place, and central government departments exercise considerable control over the resources allocated to these spheres. Despite placing statutory responsibilities on local authorities (including in the areas of adult social care, child protection, safeguarding and sufficiency of supply of childcare services), these systems nevertheless permit local authorities (including Leeds City Council, described here) some discretion over how resources are distributed and allocated and over how services are designed. Policy and governance in these areas of welfare is consequently both dynamic and subject to pressure in periods of resource constraint. The chapter explores how childcare and eldercare arrangements in Leeds are shaped and have changed under post-2008 pressures, and considers some of the consequences for women in Leeds.
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Notes
- 1.
The term ‘carer’ is used to refer to people who provide their support unpaid, as a family member, neighbour or friend.
- 2.
Some national financial measures (for example, the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit and the childcare vouchers available through employers) are designed to assist working parents to pay for childcare.
- 3.
Eligible carers were given the right to receive appropriate services, following a local authority assessment of their needs in the Care Act 2014, effective from April 2015.
- 4.
The political system in the UK is complex; since 1998 certain areas of central government have been devolved to democratically accountable governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but there is no devolved government in England.
- 5.
RDAs were introduced in England between 1998 and 2000; they received central government funding to further sustainable economic development. They were also responsible for administering European Union Regional Development Funds. For further information, see http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dti.gov.uk/regional/regional-dev-agencies/index.html.
- 6.
Since 1 April 2013, national welfare reforms have cut the amount of Housing Benefit working age people can receive if they are deemed to have a spare bedroom in their council or housing association home.
- 7.
Parents of eligible children can access free childcare through any registered provider (nurseries, children’s centres, playgroups, pre-schools or childminders), with local authorities paying childcare providers directly and later reclaiming the cost from central government.
- 8.
According to plans announced by the previous Labour government.
- 9.
Various petitions by parents were addressed to local authorities: http://www.netmums.com/home/netmums-campaigns/shout-out-for-a-sure-start-campaign/save-our-children-s-centres-socc. An open letter from childcare specialists to the government warned about the dangers of closing local authority children centres (Walker 2014).
- 10.
The family income is under £16,000 per year.
- 11.
Another much criticized element of the Children and Families Act 2014 is allowing childminder agencies to be set up, relaxing current regulations of childminders’ work (http://www.pacey.org.uk/PDF/Childminder%20agencies%20-%20Briefing%20for%20LAs.pdf).
- 12.
The Care Act 2014 will also have major implications for eldercare services. These will include new duties (to provide services for eligible carers; and to ensure there is a sufficient supply of local services, from 2015) and from 2016 a new role in assessing people who currently fund their own care without a local authority assessment, under arrangements to cap individuals’ lifetime care costs. See http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents/enacted/data.htm.
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Kispéter, E., Yeandle, S. (2015). Local Welfare Policy in a Centralized Governance System: Childcare and Eldercare Services in a Period of Rapid Change in Leeds. In: Kutsar, D., Kuronen, M. (eds) Local Welfare Policy Making in European Cities. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 59. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16163-1_7
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