ABSTRACT
Travel agent' invites students to consider buying one of a number of different holidays, the purchase of a holiday providing an analogy for the purchase of social services. It is designed to encourage students to consider some of the factors involved in making choices about services—in this case a service they might wish to obtain for themselves. The person choosing a holiday is able to decide independently, to book directly with a holiday company and to purchase the service they require; they are not obliged to consult a travel agent. Social workers have always been concerned with the quality of services that people receive. The process of care management has introduced and strengthened the notion that all services should be inspected by independent inspection units. The Social Services Inspectorate has stated that the maintenance of values such as privacy, dignity, independence, choice, rights and fulfilment should be evaluated when inspecting residential homes.
