Public Services Inspection in the Uk: Research Highlights in Social Work

"Public Services Inspection in the UK" provides a detailed account of the changing role of inspection in public services management. It outlines the continuing debates about providing inspection that encourages not only accountability but also effective service provision and best practice.The contributors describe current inspection methods across the key public sectors of education, social care, local government services and healthcare, and provide insights into the underlying issues and tensions of public services inspection. They compare approaches adopted in different parts of the UK and present evidence that can be drawn on to develop more effective practice, as well as offering recommendations for future policy and research."Public Services Inspection in the UK" is essential reading for public service managers, social workers, policy makers, researchers, academics, students and those professionals in working in public services who have an involvement in the inspection process."Research Highlights in Social Work" series examines areas of particular interest to those in social and community work and related fields. Each book draws together different aspects of the subject, highlighting relevant research and drawing out implications for policy and practice. The project is under the editorial direction of Professor Joyce Lishman, Head of the School of Applied Social Studies at the Robert Gordon University.Social, health and education workers, policy makers, researchers, academics and students as well as professionals in working in public services. Public Services Inspection in the UK provides a detailed account of the changing role of inspection in public services management. It analyses the key debates about the role that inspection plays in increasing public accountability and encouraging service improvement.Contributors describe current inspection methods across the key public sectors of education, social care, the criminal justice system, local government services and healthcare, and examine the underlying issues and tensions associated with public services inspection. They compare approaches adopted in different parts of the UK and present evidence that can be drawn on to develop more effective practice, as well as offering recommendations for future policy and research.Public Services Inspection in the UK is essential reading for public service managers, social workers, policy makers, researchers, academics, students and professionals working in public services who have an involvement in the inspection process. FRONT COVER......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 1. The Rise of PublicServices Inspection......Page 9 2. Inspection of LocalGovernment Services......Page 21 3. Inspection of Adult andChildren’s Social Care......Page 39 4. Inspection of Educationand SkillsFrom Improvement to Accountability......Page 54 5. Regulation and Inspectionof Health Services......Page 70 6. Inspection and the CriminalJustice Agencies......Page 89 7. Holistic Public ServicesInspection......Page 104 8. Performance ParadoxesThe Politics of Evaluation in Public Services......Page 122 9. The Future of Public ServicesInspection......Page 137 THE EDITORS ......Page 154 THE CONTRIBUTORS ......Page 155 SUBJECT INDEX ......Page 157 AUTHOR INDEX ......Page 161 BACK COVER......Page 164 The rise of public services inspection / Steve Martin & Howard Davis Inspection of local government / James Downe Inspection of adult and children's social care / Chris Johns and David Lock Inspection of education and skills : from improvement to accountability / Jane Martin Regulation and inspection of health services / Keiran Walshe Inspection and the Criminal Justice Agencies / John W Raine Holistic public services regulation and inspection / Steve Bundred and Clive Grace Performing for the public? Public service inspection, evaluation and good governance / John Clarke The future of public services inspection / Steve Martin and Howard Davis. This book analyses the key debates about the role that inspection plays in increasing public accountability and encouraging service improvement. Contributors describe current inspection methods across the key public sectors, and examine the underlying issues and tensions associated with public services inspection This text provides a detailed account of the changing role of inspection in public services management. It outlines the continuing debates about providing inspection that encourages not only accountability but also effective service provision and best practice