Public Services Inspection in the UK

Public Services Inspection in the UK provides a detailed account of the changing role of inspection in public services management. It analyses the key debates about the role that inspection plays in increasing public accountability and encouraging service improvement.

Contributors describe current inspection methods across the key public sectors of education, social care, the criminal justice system, local government services and healthcare, and examine the underlying issues and tensions associated with public services inspection. They compare approaches adopted in different parts of the UK and present evidence that can be drawn on to develop more effective practice, as well as offering recommendations for future policy and research.

Public Services Inspection in the UK is essential reading for public service managers, social workers, policy makers, researchers, academics, students and professionals working in public services who have an involvement in the inspection process.

Contents: 1. The Rise of Public Services Inspection. Steve Martin, Cardiff Business School and Howard Davis, Warwick Business School. 2. Inspection of Local Government Services. James Downe, Cardiff University. 3. Inspection of Adult and Children's Social Care. Chris John, University of Wales Business School, Cardiff and David Loc, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.
4. Inspection of Education and Skills: From Improvement to Accountability. Jane Martin, Local Better Regulation Office. 5. Regulation and Inspection of Health Services. Kieran Walshe, Manchester Business School. 6. Inspection and the Criminal Justice Agencies. John W. Raine, University of Birmingham. 7. Holistic Public Services Inspection. Steve Bundred, Audit Commission and Clive Grace, Cardiff University. 8. Performance Paradoxes: The Politics of Evaluation in Public Service. John Clarke, Open University. 9. The Future of Public Services Inspection. Howard Davis, Warwick Business School and Steve Martin, Cardiff Business School. The Editors. The Contributors. Subject index. Author index.