Publisher's Synopsis
One of the legacies of the Thatcher years to the social services has been the restructuring of both public and voluntary organizations through legislation, privatization and changes in funding. These changes have forced voluntary organizations to take on more and more responsibility originally belonging to the public sector so that now the voluntary sector is a significant part of health and social care in Britain. As a result, academic, students and policy makers must understand the similarities and differences between the two sectors. "Organizing Public and Voluntary Agencies" presents essays based on many years of research in the organization and management of governmental and voluntary welfare agencies. It offers theories which are crucial for an understanding of many key problems which continue to plague governmental welfare agencies. Why are there chronic problems of accountability and standards of care? What is really meant by "prevention"? Can social service departments survive into the next century? David Billis also presents a major new theory of voluntary organization based on a pioneering long term research programme.
