This book explores the management of children's services in local authorities across England and Wales. It examines residential childcare from a management and organizational perspective for the first time. The volume evaluates how social services manage residential units and offers alternative solutions. The book will interest academics, practitioners and policy makers who work in the public sector, as well as their counterparts from outside who are concerned with the issues of control, implementation, professionals and markets.

Reflecting the challenges and opportunities of achieving improvement in healthcare systems, the contributions of this innovative new text lend depth and nuance to an increasing area of academic debate.