Community Care, Care Management and Workload Management

Abstract

Different nations, different cultures, develop their own philosophies of welfare. In North America there is a prevailing current of self-dependence, reinforced by the supportive values of the many immigrant cultures which make up its population. National and state participation in social services is well established in appreciation of the fact that wholly private or voluntary systems will not meet the needs of less privileged citizens in a comprehensive fashion. Yet the public services do not dominate, either in size or influence, and the resulting social services mix is a lucky dip. On the up side there is enormous variety, in size, policy, organisational structure and method of working, so that America is a testbed for new ideas, for pushing forward new ways of helping people. On the down side the services available to a particular individual in a particular locality may be comprehensive and progressive, but just as likely may be patchy and eccentric.