Originally published in 1982, this book locates the personal social services firmly in their context of local and central government. In so doing it provides detailed historical information about the structure and the finance in central government's contribution to local government funding. It also considers the purposes and functions of social services departments in the late 20th century and analyses the use they made of the money at their disposal.

The book is an important contribution to the significant body of literature which placed important developments in social policy within the wider framework of the social sciences. The book draws, therefore, upon sociological literature and other studies relevant to policy analysis. The issues raised in the book are complex and the book's contribution heightens our awareness of the way the personal social services were shaped, modified and developed by external as well as internal forces.