Harriet Ward is Director of the Centre for Child and Family Research and Senior Research Fellow at Loughborough University, UK. She has undertaken extensive research in the field of assessing need and evaluating outcomes in children's services. Lisa Holmes is a Research Associate at the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University, UK. Her research interests include the provision of support services for foster carers, costs of foster care, and youth justice. Jean Soper is based at Leicester University, UK.

• Preface. Authors' note. 1. Introduction. 2. Identifying Local Authorities and Children for Exploring the Costs of Care. 3. The Development of Unit Costs for Social Care Processes. 4. Placement Patterns, Processes and Costs. 5. Children and Costs. 6. Need, Cost, Service and Outcome. 7. The Relationship Between Cost and Value: Children's Views of the Value of Services. 8. The Cost Calculator for Children's Services. 9. Conclusion: Cost Calculations and their Implications for Policy and Practice. References. Index.

This book may have an important contribution to make towards ensuring that costs of care are looked at consistently within, and across, local authorities and help to ensure the best possible care is provided for looked after children.

Harriet Ward is Director of the Centre for Child and Family Research and Senior Research Fellow at Loughborough University, UK. She has undertaken extensive research in the field of assessing need and evaluating outcomes in children's services. Lisa Holmes is a Research Associate at the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University, UK. Her research interests include the provision of support services for foster carers, costs of foster care, and youth justice. Jean Soper is based at Leicester University, UK.

• Preface. Authors' note. 1. Introduction. 2. Identifying Local Authorities and Children for Exploring the Costs of Care. 3. The Development of Unit Costs for Social Care Processes. 4. Placement Patterns, Processes and Costs. 5. Children and Costs. 6. Need, Cost, Service and Outcome. 7. The Relationship Between Cost and Value: Children's Views of the Value of Services. 8. The Cost Calculator for Children's Services. 9. Conclusion: Cost Calculations and their Implications for Policy and Practice. References. Index.

This book may have an important contribution to make towards ensuring that costs of care are looked at consistently within, and across, local authorities and help to ensure the best possible care is provided for looked after children.

Harriet Ward is Director of the Centre for Child and Family Research and Senior Research Fellow at Loughborough University, UK. She has undertaken extensive research in the field of assessing need and evaluating outcomes in children's services. Lisa Holmes is a Research Associate at the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University, UK. Her research interests include the provision of support services for foster carers, costs of foster care, and youth justice. Jean Soper is based at Leicester University, UK.

• Preface. Authors' note. 1. Introduction. 2. Identifying Local Authorities and Children for Exploring the Costs of Care. 3. The Development of Unit Costs for Social Care Processes. 4. Placement Patterns, Processes and Costs. 5. Children and Costs. 6. Need, Cost, Service and Outcome. 7. The Relationship Between Cost and Value: Children's Views of the Value of Services. 8. The Cost Calculator for Children's Services. 9. Conclusion: Cost Calculations and their Implications for Policy and Practice. References. Index.

This book may have an important contribution to make towards ensuring that costs of care are looked at consistently within, and across, local authorities and help to ensure the best possible care is provided for looked after children.