Personalisation was a key element in reform to the Adult and Social Care system in England exploring
long-term funding options in response to demographic change where people are increasingly living
longer with complex conditions and needs (Department of Health, 2007). Personal budgets are central
to this reform to enable recipients of social care to choose and commission their own services. Reform
was not expected to require structural reorganisation but local authority leadership to promote genuine
partnerships between social care providers, users and their carers as well as the wider community.
However, there is potential for a shift in power to service users which goes beyond collaboration,
especially where there is scope to build long-term relationships around long-term needs.