ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book looks beyond the issues of early implementation by addressing several of the areas which provide real opportunities for effective service development. It explores some of the differences in the way care management has evolved in the UK following the community care reforms, and identifies four areas where further development is required. These are: the use of terminology; the nature and interpretation of the purchaser/provider separation; commissioning arrangements and delegation of responsibility; and the relationship between social work and care management. The book outlines the demographic and social changes which will affect the demand for services. It considers the traditional distinctions between primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care and their utility for modern community care, based upon the experience of mental health services.
