Costing Community Care: Theory and Practice(Routledge Revivals)

Published in 1993. Valid and useful costings in social and health care depend not only on a knowledge of costing theory but also on overcoming the practical difficulties involved. The authors of this book draw on eighteen years of research at the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) to describe the theory and practise of costing, and its uses. Costing Community Care differs from other books which address the subject, by acknowledging and discussing the practical difficulties of costing, and by examining in detail the interface between theory and practice. Principles and methodologies are identified, and pragmatic approaches to achieving valid date in the face of practical difficulties are described. Examples from empirical research are used to illustrate particular issues and four case studies are included which reflect a variety of methodologies and policy issues.

Table of Contents:
1. Costing Community Care: The Role of this Book Martin Knapp, Ann Netten and Jennifer Beecham Part 1: The Costing Process 2. Background Theory Martin Knapp 3. Costing Services: Ideals and Reality Caroline Allen and Jennifer Beechman 4. Costing Informal Care Ann Netten Part 2: The Uses of Cost Information 5. Principles of Applied Cost Research Martin Knapp 6. Proceed with Caution: The Use of Official Sources of Cost Information in Social Services Departments Aidan Kelly and Andrew Bebbington 7. Costs, Prices and Charges Ann Netten 8. New Policies and Old Logics: Costs Information and Modal Choice Bleddyn Davis Part 3: The Application of Costs 9. Calculating Unit Costs of a Centre for People with AIDS/HIV Andrew Bebbington 10. Case Management: Costing the Experiments David Challis, John Chesterman and Karen Traske 11. Costs, Needs and Outcomes in Community Mental Health Care Jennifer Beechman, Martin Knapp and Andrew Fenyo 12. Intermediate Treatment: User Characteristics and the Prediction of Costs Martin Knapp, Paul McCrone, Catherine Drury and Eriko Gould Part 4: Epilogue 13. Costs Estimation and Community Care: Why We Must Run Fast to Stand Still Bleddyn Davis