Innovation is considered part of the solution to the many challenges facing publicly-funded services, including adult social care (ASC), yet evidence to inform policy is limited. Using a database of innovations in England, the diversity and spread of ASC innovation is described. Innovation is diverse, both in types and in its purpose. It is interorganizational, involving organizations of all ownership types, but few innovations spread. The findings support arguments about the need to accelerate adoption and spread but also argue for an evidence-informed guiding model that recognizes organizations as the primary adopting unit and the features of the ASC context. Dynamics and features of ASC innovation that are important for guiding adoption and spread are identified. It is argued these features can be traced back to the strong and sustained influence of the New Public Management in this context. The implications of this for innovation theory and research are developed.
Juliette Malley (Thu,) studied this question.