This book provides a clear, concise and readable introduction to complexity thinking, its application to the social sciences and public policy, and the relevance of some of its various tools to those fields of politics, health, the international realm, development, planning and terrorism.The authors argue that the foundation for many of the current crises in these areas can be traced to the attempt by social scientists and policy-makers to treat these systems and processes as fundamentally orderly, predictable and controllable. By providing an overview of complex systems, a practical introduction to basic concepts and tools of these systems, and examples for understanding and managing them in real life policy situations they provide an exciting new perspective for rethinking our basic approaches to the social sciences and for understanding and managing the increasingly interdependent world of public policy.The book is vital reading for students and scholars of the social sciences and public policy, and also policymakers and the policy actor audience.
Managing in Health and Social Care is about developing skills to manage and improve health and social care services. The focus throughout is on the role that a manager can play in ensuring effective delivery of high-quality services. Examples from social care and health settings are used to illustrate techniques for managing people, resources, information, projects and change.
This new edition has been extensively revised and updated, and includes many new case studies and examples, as well as a new chapter on motivation. It covers topics such as:
- interorganisational and interprofessional working
- leadership
- responding to the needs of service users
- the service environment
- accountability and risk
- working with a budget
- standards and quality
- managing change.
The authors explore how managers can make a real and positive difference to the work of organisations providing health and social care. They consider what effectiveness means in managing care services, the values that underpin the services, the roles of leaders and managers in developing high-quality service provision, and the necessary skills and systems to enable service users to contribute to planning and evaluation.
Managing in Health and Social Care is a practical textbook for students of management in health and social care, whether at undergraduate or postgraduate level. It includes case studies with textual commentary to reinforce learning, activities, key references and clear explanations of essential management tools and concepts.
The first edition of this book was published in association with The Open University for the Managing Education Scheme by Open Learning (MESOL)
