'Caring for people: community care in the next decade and beyond' white paper

In response to the 1988 Griffiths report on community care, the government published its white paper Caring for people: community care in the next decade and beyond.

The white paper accepted Griffiths' recommendations and proposed to transfer responsibility for the procurement of community care services (including residential care) to local government.

The intention was to enable more people (those with mental health problems or disabilities and older people) to be supported to live at home where possible, thereby reducing the costs to the Department of Social Security.

The white paper outlined that community care services should be focused on those with greatest needs. It did not, however, follow Griffiths' recommendations to introduce a Minister of Community Care, or to ring-fence funding for community care. Moreover, it promoted the growth of the independent sector.