The racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the eventual report (Macpherson, 1999) into the handling of the investigation by the Metropolitan Police is likely to be viewed by social scientists as a watershed in the way public services work with, and for, Britain's black and minority ethnic communities. Those of us involved in promoting race equality at that time are likely to testify to widespread debate as to what is to be done among both front-line practitioners and senior managers in social care (although not always between senior managers and practitioners). But beyond generating pieces of paper from 44,000 public bodies attempting to meet the requirements of the ‘duty’ to promote race equality by publishing a race equality plan or scheme imposed by the 2000 Race Relations Amendment Act, it is tempting to ask whether there has been any discernable change in the experience of those who need support from black and minority ethnic communities.

This chapter will consider some of the evidence on the experience of social care of black and minority ethnic people. It will suggest that there has been identifiable change in the support available to and taken up by these communities. However, the chapter will also show that this support is often patchy in its coverage and only rarely promotes choice and control for these communities. It will then consider why this situation persists, examining various aspects of both policy and practice. The chapter will conclude with a brief examination of the role of black and minority ethnic-led voluntary organisations in providing support that is particularly valued by service users, and suggests that perhaps it is the adoption of a community development approach that makes these organisations more successful than others.

Background

The often-quoted conclusion of the Association of Directors of Social Services and Commission for Race Equality in 1978 is worth repeating here:

A number of studies since have demonstrated the persistence of this picture. Butt et al in 1991 noted: