ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on early intervention for children and families, and personalisation in adult social care. Early intervention and personalisation are crucial notions in current social policy, but both have long roots in social works history. In the current policy context it is often argued that earlier intervention is a way of saving money in the longer term, and personalised approaches can be more efficient, cutting out inappropriate services. The research is described in the Allen report and by Brown and Ward, a research overview produced for professionals working in the family justice system. The goals of greater personalisation and more prevention were taken forward under the coalition government, in its policy document A Vision for Adult Social Care. It helped develop many of the ideas and practices that have now been incorporated into government policy about personalisation. The chapter explores the themes of prevention and personalisation, highlights their tensions and ambiguities, and the implications for social work.
