The implementation of a Free-choice Market System in Swedish Community Mental Health Services by the Example of Day Centres

• Marketization in community mental health services is a new phenomenon and might be the most comprehensive reform in the field since the deinstitutionalisation that occurred during the second half of the twentieth century. Historically, mental health services have been characterized by discipline and paternalistic practices.There has been an absence ofwhat is now, due to the new organizational model based on individual freedom of choice, is to be introduced. The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of a free-choice market system in community mental health services, using the example of day centres for people with psychiatric disabilities. The study was conducted in a major city that was about to implement a free-choice market system due to a new legislation. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Agents situated in different parts of the organization were interviewed one year before and two years after the free-choice system was launched in 2010. Data showed a top-down political process. The policy intentions of the new Act were in focus when studying the relation between policy and practice during the implementation process. A majority of the policy intentions of the new Act advocated individual autonomy as the market system’s main purpose, only one intention concerned organizational efficiency. Interview data reflected, however, that financial efficiency dominated the agents’ experiences of the implemented system. The twofold market purpose was clearly reflected in the interviews. Front-line staff hoped for improvements mainly for the users, when managers mainly focused on the market as a resource allocator.

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