Decentralization of Dutch social care : how the outsourcing of social care services by municipalities affects their possibilities to handle the risks posed by conceivably ill-intentioned care providers.

The purpose of this study is to look at how the different approaches of outsourcing social care, taken by municipalities, influences their possibilities to handle risks that conceivably ill-intentioned care providers could pose. Two forms of outsourcing are common in the Netherlands: Public procurement and open house. Four cases (32 municipalities) are compared by their (pre-)selection and monitoring phase, to see what the different approaches and possibilities to handle their risks are. It is found that each case has a different way to mitigate their risks. Municipalities have different motivations for organizing their care in a particular way. If the choice is made for freedom of choice of the client, it is recommended to screen and monitor well. Public procurement seems the better option to handle their risks posed by ill-intentioned care providers, as a municipality can be selective in their care providers and strive for long-term relationships.