The social contract in care traditionally comprises a system of agreements between the government, civil society organisations and the people on accessibility, efficiency and quality of the care provided. Signed, sealed and delivering focuses on the care schemes and perceptions arising from this combined action.
The Dutch welfare state is characterised by a mixed administrative model of central government control, regulated market forces and professional self-management whose objective is to protect citizens against social risks. The decentralisation of care-related tasks to municipalities and the call for greater personal responsibility on the part of citizens means that today, the emphasis is more on investing in resources that enable people to participate in society.
How does this combined action function in current care practices, and what are its outcomes for e.g. the differences between the cans and cannots? How will this affect citizens’ expectations from the government and civil society organisations, as well as their willingness to share social risks collectively and support the social contract? In Signed, sealed and delivering, Kim Putters examines the road leading to new types of risk sharing, involvement and dialogue between local and central government institutions, civil society organisations, citizens and science.