Ann Marie Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Ulster and Policy Director of ARK, a resource on Northern Ireland politics and society. She has researched and written on policy making in Northern Ireland, health and social care and social attitudes.Derek Birrell is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Ulster. He has written and researched on policy making in health and social care, the civil service, devolution and social policy, and administrative structures and policy.

"This book will be a valuable and easy-to-use resource for students across adult social care whether from health or social care backgrounds." The Journal of Social Policy "A clear, comprehensive sweep of the key issues, influences and dynamics in contemporary adult social care across the UK, making it an ideal introductory text for students and practitioners in both social care and health." Dr Sarah Carr, London South Bank University "This is an excellent account of the "transformation" of adult social care, combining depth of critical analysis with a broad comparative focus on England and the devolved regions of the UK." Dr Catherine Needham, University of Birmingham

• Introduction;History of Adult Social Care;Contemporary issues in Adult Social Care;Governance of Adult Social Care;Personalisation in Adult Social Care;Integration of Health and Social Care;Unpaid Carers and Adult Social Care Provision; The Paid Adult Social Care Workforce;Public and User Involvement;Regulatory Frameworks, Inspection and Safeguarding;Conclusions.

Ann Marie Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Ulster and Policy Director of ARK, a resource on Northern Ireland politics and society. She has researched and written on policy making in Northern Ireland, health and social care and social attitudes.Derek Birrell is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Ulster. He has written and researched on policy making in health and social care, the civil service, devolution and social policy, and administrative structures and policy.

"This book will be a valuable and easy-to-use resource for students across adult social care whether from health or social care backgrounds." The Journal of Social Policy "A clear, comprehensive sweep of the key issues, influences and dynamics in contemporary adult social care across the UK, making it an ideal introductory text for students and practitioners in both social care and health." Dr Sarah Carr, London South Bank University "This is an excellent account of the "transformation" of adult social care, combining depth of critical analysis with a broad comparative focus on England and the devolved regions of the UK." Dr Catherine Needham, University of Birmingham

• Introduction;History of Adult Social Care;Contemporary issues in Adult Social Care;Governance of Adult Social Care;Personalisation in Adult Social Care;Integration of Health and Social Care;Unpaid Carers and Adult Social Care Provision; The Paid Adult Social Care Workforce;Public and User Involvement;Regulatory Frameworks, Inspection and Safeguarding;Conclusions.

Ann Marie Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Ulster and Policy Director of ARK, a resource on Northern Ireland politics and society. She has researched and written on policy making in Northern Ireland, health and social care and social attitudes.Derek Birrell is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Ulster. He has written and researched on policy making in health and social care, the civil service, devolution and social policy, and administrative structures and policy.

"This book will be a valuable and easy-to-use resource for students across adult social care whether from health or social care backgrounds." The Journal of Social Policy "A clear, comprehensive sweep of the key issues, influences and dynamics in contemporary adult social care across the UK, making it an ideal introductory text for students and practitioners in both social care and health." Dr Sarah Carr, London South Bank University "This is an excellent account of the "transformation" of adult social care, combining depth of critical analysis with a broad comparative focus on England and the devolved regions of the UK." Dr Catherine Needham, University of Birmingham

• Introduction;History of Adult Social Care;Contemporary issues in Adult Social Care;Governance of Adult Social Care;Personalisation in Adult Social Care;Integration of Health and Social Care;Unpaid Carers and Adult Social Care Provision; The Paid Adult Social Care Workforce;Public and User Involvement;Regulatory Frameworks, Inspection and Safeguarding;Conclusions.