Published
Dec 5, 2018Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1447351283Dimensions
216 x 138 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
Dec 5, 2018Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1447351290Dimensions
Imprint
Policy PressPublished
Dec 5, 2018Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1447351832Dimensions
Imprint
Policy Press
In Whose Interest?
In the news
On our blog: 'How to turn a children’s social services crisis into a catastrophe'
'Outsourcing children's services isn't just wrong – it's a waste of money' in The Guardian
'Councils spend millions on agency social workers amid recruiting crisis' in The Guardian
As the government continues to open up child protection and social work in England to a commercial market place, what is the social cost of privatising public services? And what effect has the failure of previous privatisations had on their provision?
This book, by best-selling author and expert social worker Ray Jones, is the first to tell the story of how crucial social work services, including those for families and children, are now being out-sourced to private companies. Detailing how the failures of previous privatisations have led to the deterioration of services for the public, it shows how this trend threatens the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and disabled adults.
Ray Jones is emeritus professor of social work at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London. He has more than 40 years experience as a social worker and has been a director of social services, chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, and chair of the British Association of Social Workers. He is a frequent media columnist and commentator and the author of six books, including the best selling ‘The Story of Baby P: Setting the Record Straight’ (Policy Press 2014). In 2017 he received the Social Worker of the Year Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Work.
Introduction;
Part 1: The recent history;
How did we get here? The recent moves to privatise children's social services and social work;
Creeping political control: the Children and Social Work Bill and anti-professionalism;
The key players and their networks;
Part 2: The long haul;
The formation of the welfare state and its 1980s rejection by Thatcher;
Thatchers levers and emchanism to promote marketisation and privatisation;
Blair and New Labour's contribution to the journey;
Cameron, the Coalition and the Conservatives: Cambornism and enhanced Thatcherism;
Part 3: The impact of privatisation;
Privatisation of public services and the undermining of the welfare state;
The experience and outcomes of privatising public services;
The impact to date of the privatisation of social care, social services and social work;
Part 4: Changing course;
No to Tina: an alternative journey for social work and children's social services.
