Embracing a Co-operative Model for Social Care and Ageing Population

The Case for a Co-op approach to Social Care Meeting the needs and aspirations of an ageing population through ownership and control MERVYN EASTMAN Vice Chair, Positive Ageing in London Society Secretary, Change Agents Co-operative

WHAT IS A CO-OPERATIVE ? THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE . 4,800 independent co-operatives in the UK Work in all parts of the economy - from health and social care to housing, football clubs, farms, retail, credit unions, community shops...etc etc. Co-ops are NOT just supermarkets, banks and funeral services!

Co-operatives are owned by individual members Exist to serve their members One member, one vote: owners with equal say in what the co-operatives does Shape the decisions of their co-operative Across the UK, Co-operatives are owned by more than 11m people and membership is growing.

ONE MEMBER, ONE VOTE, ONE MOVEMENT Principles and values that define a co-operative: Voluntary and open membership Democratic control Member economic participation Autonomy and independence Education, training and information Co-operation among co-operatives Concern for the community

OPENNESS HONESTY RESPONSIBILITY EQUALITY SOLIDARITY COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Co-operation in London 600 London Co-operatives 10,000 employees 800m turnover Promoting co-operation Supporting new co-operative start-ups Uniting the movement Bringing together worker, housing, consumer and community co-operatives which share co-operative values, promoting, supporting and uniting all sectors of the movement.

Social Care Co-operatives Democratic control provides higher levels of involvement and personal empowerment The Co-operative structure provides a safer environment and closer relations among people The model encourages interaction between ALL age groups and dependencies Makes it more possible for older people to remain in their communities Understood by older members Non profit structure allows more affordable service Taken from: John Restarkis, Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the age of capital (2008) Higher staff retention Higher quality of care Pride of OWNERSHIP Small size can mean more personal levels of care Higher levels of community involvement

A Co-operative health check Open membership: older person is eligible to become a member Equal say: All members of a co-operative, staff, users, community organisations, elected members/commissioners have equal say Good for learning: Co-operatives have a long tradition of training and development of its members Independence and autonomy: Co-operatives are not beholden to anybody but its membership Collaboration: When possible co-operatives collaborate with each other and have a commitment to the community

Challenges to the Co-op model Lack of awareness Reluctance to share power Complexities of the Co-operative development process Capital accumulation and enterprise investment Lack of managerial expertise and confidence Length of contracts Failure to fund new services ( procurement requirements)

For Social care co-operatives to develop Bland, J. (2011) Specific business support Clear co-operative and mutual models Participative governance Organisational forms that can be recognised in procurement Long term commissioning Taxation constraints overcome Links to wider Co-operative sector An openness to user involvement as well as employee ownership

Thank you Mervyn Eastman mervyn.changeagent@gmail.com