Evaluation has become a central tool in the development of contemporary social policy. Its widespread popularity is based on the need to provide evidence of the effectiveness of policies and programmes. This book sees evaluation as an inherently political activity, as much about forms of governance as scientific practice. Using a wide range of examples from neighbourhood renewal, health and social care and other aspects of social policy, it relates practical issues in evaluation design to their political contexts. book considers key issues in the politics of evaluation including: governance and evaluation; participatory evaluation; partnerships and evaluation; and learning from evaluation. It makes a significant and original contribution by: emphasising the political context of evaluation; presenting an original framework for analysing evaluation and suggestions for reflective and critical practice; discussing the relationship between evaluation and evidence; demonstrating the difficulties and opportunities involved in evaluation; relating evaluation to current policies and practice. researchers, policy makers, service providers and professionals across the public services as well as professional evaluators. It will be a valuable resource for students on a range of social science and professional courses and those concerned with recent developments in social research methodology.

This collection focuses on the relationship between social care, community and citizenship, linking them in a way relevant to both policy and practice. While there is extensive research within each of these fields, until now there is a dearth of dialogue between them. In the current political context. With an emphasis on the development of locally based services and governance, this publication is particularly timely. Divided into four sections, it covers: key concepts, issues and relationships and draws on contrasting illustrations from England and Scotland; ethics of care and the theoretical and moral complexities to be thought through for both those receiving and those delivering care; practice based chapters on community capacity to care, black and minority ethnic care, anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, befriending, volunteering, dementia care and home care; and international comparisons and perspectives with chapters from Sweden, Germany and Japan.The book is aimed at a wide range of readers including: academics, principally teachers and researchers in social policy and social work; undergraduate and postgraduate students; practitioners, including community development workers, social workers, public health workers, mental health staff, practitioners employed on renewal, regeneration, social inclusion and community cohesion programmes and policy makers in central and local government, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts. It opens up discussions relevant for the next decade and beyond.

Over the past 10 years partnership working has become a central feature of public services. This book analyses experience of partnerships in different policy fields, identifying the theoretical and practical impediments to making partnership work and critically evaluating the advantages and disadvantages for those involved. Its broad coverage goes beyond the confines of statutory partnerships, addressing other important forms of collaboration between voluntary, private and statutory sectors and service users and community and minority groups. Through a wide range of perspectives, Partnership working aims to integrate theory and practice across a number of policy areas. Using a variety of models, it: highlights both positive and negative aspects of partnership working at political, cultural and technical levels; shows how partnerships can empower people and groups through effective collaboration; suggests some of the principles on which good practice should be based and the resources required; addresses key issues of accountability, representation and social exclusion. The book provides important reading for academics, policy makers, service providers and senior practitioners in community development and community safety, local government, housing, social services and health. It will also be a valuable resource for those working in voluntary organisations and students on professional courses.