ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the potentialities and risks of the next technological frontier for social services, the Internet or Information Super Highway. It explores the impact of monitoring and development within some areas of activity as instrumental in advancing policy and practice development. The book examines the impact upon a department of electing to audit the information systems in existence, and provides the information requirements specifically to support community care. It explains the Department's approach to two main areas: its policy on local authority information systems and its requirements for monitoring information. The book presents the rationale for the inspections, an overview of the methodology, the main findings, and a discussion of the issues raised. It addresses the question of whether a shared interest exists between the statutory and voluntary sector in information management.
