ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the question 'what are the costs to the social services department of producing outputs in community care and standard provision for recipients in varying circumstances?' It provides statistical models of the relationship between costs and outputs and the characteristics and circumstances which affect the relationships. The costs variable used measured the 'gross revenue account costs' to the agency, the total cost incurred by the social services department in the care of the case over the period of twelve months during which the services were monitored. The statistical models worked well, accounting for more than one-half of the variation in cost. In the analyses preparatory to the cost function modelling, most outcome indicators were classified into two broad types: life satisfaction/psychological well-being and quality of care. All quasi-inputs were measured at the pre-test stage, and so were unaffected by community care.
