Mark Lymbery is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Lincoln. He has a long-standing academic interest in the development of adult social care. Karen Postle is a registered social worker and retired social work lecturer. She works as a practice educator for qualifying social workers and as an assessor/supervisor for newly qualified social workers. Karen has also published widely in adult social care.

• Introduction;Part 1: The Development of Policy;Community Care: Origins and Influences;The Transformation of Social Care: the personalisation agenda;Themes and Continuities;Part 2: The Degradation of Social Work;Ideological Confusion;Deprofessionalisation;The Primacy of Resources in Shaping Policy;Assessment and Decision-Making;Part 3: The Reconstruction of Social Work;Reasserting the Importance of Social Work Values;Issues for Practice;Conclusion.

"Confronted by the spectre of a hollowed-out social work, Lymbery and Postle interrogate the rhetoric and promises of community care and personalisation. Their response is both insightful and authentic?." Mark Hughes, Southern Cross University, Australia "Lymbery and Postle's book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of critical literature on austerity-driven personalisation and a reminder of the importance of good social work. It deserves to be widely read." Iain Ferguson, University of the West of Scotland, UK "A timely critique of adult social work services that are in crisis and under attack. Providing up-to-date knowledge, it is a must for today's students." Jonathan Parker, Bournemouth University "An excellent introduction for social workers who are new to the policy developments in adult social care in the UK" British Journal of Social Work

Mark Lymbery is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Lincoln. He has a long-standing academic interest in the development of adult social care. Karen Postle is a registered social worker and retired social work lecturer. She works as a practice educator for qualifying social workers and as an assessor/supervisor for newly qualified social workers. Karen has also published widely in adult social care.

• Introduction;Part 1: The Development of Policy;Community Care: Origins and Influences;The Transformation of Social Care: the personalisation agenda;Themes and Continuities;Part 2: The Degradation of Social Work;Ideological Confusion;Deprofessionalisation;The Primacy of Resources in Shaping Policy;Assessment and Decision-Making;Part 3: The Reconstruction of Social Work;Reasserting the Importance of Social Work Values;Issues for Practice;Conclusion.

"Confronted by the spectre of a hollowed-out social work, Lymbery and Postle interrogate the rhetoric and promises of community care and personalisation. Their response is both insightful and authentic?." Mark Hughes, Southern Cross University, Australia "Lymbery and Postle's book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of critical literature on austerity-driven personalisation and a reminder of the importance of good social work. It deserves to be widely read." Iain Ferguson, University of the West of Scotland, UK "A timely critique of adult social work services that are in crisis and under attack. Providing up-to-date knowledge, it is a must for today's students." Jonathan Parker, Bournemouth University "An excellent introduction for social workers who are new to the policy developments in adult social care in the UK" British Journal of Social Work

Mark Lymbery is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Lincoln. He has a long-standing academic interest in the development of adult social care. Karen Postle is a registered social worker and retired social work lecturer. She works as a practice educator for qualifying social workers and as an assessor/supervisor for newly qualified social workers. Karen has also published widely in adult social care.

• Introduction;Part 1: The Development of Policy;Community Care: Origins and Influences;The Transformation of Social Care: the personalisation agenda;Themes and Continuities;Part 2: The Degradation of Social Work;Ideological Confusion;Deprofessionalisation;The Primacy of Resources in Shaping Policy;Assessment and Decision-Making;Part 3: The Reconstruction of Social Work;Reasserting the Importance of Social Work Values;Issues for Practice;Conclusion.

"Confronted by the spectre of a hollowed-out social work, Lymbery and Postle interrogate the rhetoric and promises of community care and personalisation. Their response is both insightful and authentic?." Mark Hughes, Southern Cross University, Australia "Lymbery and Postle's book is a valuable contribution to the growing body of critical literature on austerity-driven personalisation and a reminder of the importance of good social work. It deserves to be widely read." Iain Ferguson, University of the West of Scotland, UK "A timely critique of adult social work services that are in crisis and under attack. Providing up-to-date knowledge, it is a must for today's students." Jonathan Parker, Bournemouth University "An excellent introduction for social workers who are new to the policy developments in adult social care in the UK" British Journal of Social Work