Proposals to shift health and social care jobs from centralised institutions and into community based services are being hampered by a 'risk averse' culture, claims a leading healthcare think tank.

One of the most debated points of the past year has been how health and social care jobs can be switched from institutionally-based work into the wider community. This idea forms a central part of the Conservative pledges on social care provision and local government funding, as well as playing an important part of Labour's plans for a "national care system." The Liberal Democrats meanwhile, have pledged to raise the profile and prevalence of social enterprises in providing local services.

A report commissioned by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Department of Health claims that these efforts could be hampered by a 'risk averse' culture among commissioning bodies, which it says are slowing current government efforts to move to community-based services.

Based on fieldwork in seven English council areas, the report looked into how the 2006 Our care, Our say White Paper's goal of shifting care "closer to home" was being implemented.

Though the report cited evidence that community based services were delivering improved outcomes and value for money, particularly in preventive schemes, NHS and council commissioners were not shifting resources away from traditional services because of "unrealistically high standards of service."

Gerald Wimslow, co-author of the study and a visiting professor of social policy at the London School of Economics said that it was "understandable" that managers were "risk averse" regarding funding.

"Even if some services that they are currently funding may not be as effective as alternatives, they don't know that" he said. "They are taking a risk to fund a service that could reduce their control while they have to hit targets."

The report says that since the 2006 White Paper, there has been a lack of focus on how to implement 'care in the community'. It has called for a firm direction from the Department of Health in the future and for steps to be taken to make it easier for money to moved between local government services and the NHS.