September 11th, 2008
‘Duty and obligation’ - the invisible glue in services and support
The Department of Health’s consultation paper, The case for change, has opened a debate on the long-term future of England’s care and support system. In this Viewpoint, Kalyani Gandhi and Helen Bowers argue that if social care services are to transform people’s lives, they must be based on a deeper understanding of human relationships and the nature of duty and obligation inherent within them. Lessons from different generations and cultures about the importance of ‘duty and obligation’ can provide powerful levers for change and strengthen community and family relationships. Citizenship and inclusion are key messages in different government policies. We need to increase our understanding about barriers to citizenship and participation in the context of intergenerational and intercultural obligations, including: discriminating attitudes and actions; low levels of awareness and understanding; accessibility issues; poor health; disability; low income; and current and changing expectations. A free download is available: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/pdf/2291.pdf
10 September 2008
© Joseph Rowntree Foundation