Whatever the Neo Lab apperatchicks may say, Care in the Community has now gone horribly wrong in many parts of the country.
In my home city of Leeds, for instance, there is an organisation, which I shall refer to as X, which probably represents a microcosm of what is happening all over the country.
X was orrinally founded to care for and support the mentally ill. 20 years or so ago, X started out with good intentions, providing excellent quality housing services for the mentally ill and also a drop in centre, where those with mental health problems could speak to and receive the support of staff at any time.
Drop in staff or housing workers were able to accompany people to hospitals, doctors' surgeries and care programmes etc. The drop in never turned anyone away because of the sex or the colour of their skin.
The orriginal management made at least some attempt to find out and respond to the wishes of those who used the services provided by X.
Gradually, however, over the last 10 years or so, the orriginal management have been replaced by a new management, which cares more about policies than people.
The Ethos of X has now been "modernised", "restructured" and "reconfigured".
The new management talk very much about how they have improved the services. However, any improvements made by the new management are very Orwellian.
Where once, tenants were able to see housing workers whenever they needed, they are now lucky to see a housing worker once a month.
Where once X cared primarily with the mentally ill, they are now more preocupied with obscure policies, quotas, gender and ethnicity.
Where once, tenants and members were regularly consulted, they are now never consulted.
Where once, X supported tenants for as long as necessary, tenants are now limitted to a maximum of 2 years support.
Where once drop in staff were to be seen supporting and counselling members, they are now either in meetings or to be seen walking around with pens and clip boards.
Where once tenants and members were treated as individuals, they are now processed as in a sausage factory.
The only sector within X to expand is the ever growing stratas of executive management.
Modernisation has transformed X from being an excellent service for the mentally ill into being something of a cross between an Executive gravey train and an over managed and under staffed sausage factory.
If what has happened to X is happening all over the country, there is little wonder why Care in the Community is failing so catastrophically in many places.