Flexible contracting? Economic cultures and implicit contracts in social care

Drawing on case studies from two local authorities, this article identifies two distinct economic cultures in social care contracting. An arms-length contracting culture was emerging in interaction with risk-averse commercial suppliers, while a 'partnership' contracting culture was developing in ass ociation with non-profit providers who actively sought risk and responsibil ity. The article explores the discursive construction of the distinct impli cit contracts associated with the two economic cultures, showing that 'flex ibility' had become a key trope in contracting debate, carrying complex mea nings of both responsiveness and control. The article thus unpacks the noti on of 'soft' contracting in social care, and argues that social care contra cting should be understood as a process of mutual shaping of both a divided care industry and an internally divided local authority economic culture, The article then draws out a series of implications of the research for pol icy and regulation in care contracting.