Partnership working is recognised as the most effective way of improving social care services, and a non-negotiable part of the government 's aim is to provide a seamless care service. However, for students undertaking placements or for more experienced professionals moving to a different service area, the question is: what does it mean in practical terms?

This book is both an introduction and an in-depth analysis of partnership working across the public sector in the UK. In a comprehensive discussion of partnership working, Anthony Douglas explores:

• The history of partnership working, its theoretical base and practical applications
• Why partnership working is important
• How professionals are already working together
• How to develop good partnerships and address common difficulties
• How to ensure that partnership working really does result in better practice
• The future of partnership working

The analysis and examples range across the whole of the public sector with a primary focus on social care. Drawing on up-to-date research evidence and using plenty of practical examples and thinking points, Partnership Working will be of interest to students and researchers at all levels and practitioners and managers of front-line services.

Partnership working is recognised as the most effective way of improving social care services, and a non-negotiable part of the government s aim is to provide a seamless care service. However, for students undertaking placements or for more experienced professionals moving to a different service area, the question is: what does it mean in practical terms?

This book is both an introduction and an in-depth analysis of partnership working across the public sector in the UK. In a comprehensive discussion of partnership working, Anthony Douglas explores:

• The history of partnership working, its theoretical base and practical applications
• Why partnership working is important
• How professionals are already working together
• How to develop good partnerships and address common difficulties
• How to ensure that partnership working really does result in better practice
• The future of partnership working

The analysis and examples range across the whole of the public sector with a primary focus on social care. Drawing on up-to-date research evidence and using plenty of practical examples and thinking points, Partnership Working will be of interest to students and researchers at all levels and practitioners and managers of front-line services.

Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times draws together contributions from all those with an interest in adoption: adopted people; birth parents and adoptive parents; practitioners and managers in the statutory and voluntary sectors; academics and policy makers. Chapters on research and policy are interspersed with those from people with first-hand experience of being adopted, becoming an adoptive parent or giving a child up for adoption. Together, they provide unique insights into a subject that although regularly in the media is often surrounded by prejudice and misconception. Topics covered include:

* children and young people in care
* trying to adopt
* waiting for adoption
* life after adoption
* the politics of adoption.

This accessible text offers a comprehensive view of adoption policy, practice and services and analyses why adoption has become so controversial. It provides professional and general reader alike with a fully rounded picture of adoption and exposes some of the myths surrounding it.

Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times draws together contributions from all those with an interest in adoption: adopted people; birth parents and adoptive parents; practitioners and managers in the statutory and voluntary sectors; academics and policy makers. Chapters on research and policy are interspersed with those from people with first-hand experience of being adopted, becoming an adoptive parent or giving a child up for adoption. Together, they provide unique insights into a subject that although regularly in the media is often surrounded by prejudice and misconception. Topics covered include:
* children and young people in care
* trying to adopt
* waiting for adoption
* life after adoption
* the politics of adoption.
This accessible text offers a comprehensive view of adoption policy, practice and services and analyses why adoption has become so controversial. It provides professional and general reader alike with a fully rounded picture of adoption and exposes some of the myths surrounding it.

"Caring and Coping" provides a clear and accessible explanation of the history, politics, management, funding and day-to-day work of the social services in Britain. Social care now encompasses a wide range of increasingly specialized professions. This book aims to improve the practitioner's, as well as the general public's, understanding not only of what these various professions do but also what the legal, political, ethical and financial constraints are upon them.