"This book presents a wealth of highly relevant detail which, far from obscuring them, serves to illuminate underlying trends and directions of travel. It is enlivened by quotations from the interviews the author conducted with people who played significant parts in key developments, and looks set to become the definitive history of the personal social services." -- Keith Bilton, co-founder Social Work History Network "Packed with meticulously researched detail and contemporary voices, this account by an author who has lived through the ups and downs of social services development makes for a highly readable story." --June Thoburn CBE, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, University of East Anglia "A truly unique, detailed and personal account of the development of the personal social services and significant milestones encountered from Seebohm, through the Thatcherite years to current day debates about privatisation. This book documents an important period in the history of social work and will continue to be of great value to both students of social work and social policy now and in years to come." --Louise Brown, Professor of International Social Work and Innovation, University of Bath "This is a fascinating and instructive read. Ray's access to so many key people, and the blend of his analysis and their candid thoughts, paints a great picture of aspiration in public service whilst also detailing the destructive power of short-term thinking and political expediency." -- Andrew Webb, Former President of the Association of Directors of Children's Services This book provides a detailed narrative and analysis of the 50-year development of the personal social services in England, located throughout the changing ideological, political and relevant professional contexts of the period.

Drawing on the experience and recollections of key players who were active during major moments, it constitutes a significant addition to the social work and social policy literature, synthesising important and often original evidence, and some provocative interpretations. The book speaks to crucial on-going issues and contentious current debates, such as the place of bureaucratic management structures in 'practices with people' generally, and social work specifically. It will be of interest to student and qualified social workers, social policy students and researchers, and policy makers, as well as those with a general interest in the history and trajectory of current issues facing social work and social care in England.