Direct payments and personal budgets are two of the most exciting and important developments in adult social care since the Second World War. From very small-scale origins, both have grown rapidly and are now set to transform the whole of adult social care. In future, the government has pledged that everyone will receive a personal budget, and managers, practitioners and students alike will need to be fully conversant with the implications of this. Against this background, this is the first UK introductory textbook on direct payments and personal budgets, summarising the current evidence and implications for policy and practice. Designed for front-line practitioners and for student social workers, the book places these policies in context, explores their origins and impacts, and sets out the challenges and opportunities for practice. Written by leading national experts in the personalisation agenda, the book is essential reading for everyone involved in social care. This is a revised and updated second edition of the ground-breaking "Social work and direct payments" (The Policy Press, 2000).

"An excellent analysis of the journey from the Poor Law to the present day. Highly recommended." Jenny Owen, Executive Director, Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing, Essex County Council
"Helpful to have this all in one text. It explores important issues related to user empowerment." Karin Crawford, University of Lincoln

Jon Glasby is Professor of Health and Social Care and Co-Director of the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. A qualified social worker by background, he is also a board member of the Social Care Institute for Excellence. Rosemary Littlechild is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the Institute of Applied Social Studies in the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She is a qualified social worker and her research and publication interests are in work with older people, community care, partnership working between social care and health services, and service user and carer involvement.