Providing Quality In The Public Sector: A Practical Approach to Improving Public Services (Public Policy and Management) - Softcover

Gaster, Lucy

 
9780335209552: Providing Quality In The Public Sector: A Practical Approach to Improving Public Services (Public Policy and Management)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0335209556 ISBN 13: 9780335209552
Publisher: Open University Press, 2003

Synopsis

This book argues that if public services are to be ’reformed’ or ‘improved’, achieving the best possible quality of service is essential.

It starts from the premise that citizens and users are the key ‘stakeholders’. They need to be consulted and involved at every stage. Within inevitable resource constraints, it is their needs, balanced with those of society, which must be met. Service providers need to change their culture and behaviour to make this happen.

This book presents a straightforward and comprehensive model for understanding quality and putting it into practice. Existing quality philosophies and approaches are examined. Overviews of recent policy on quality in central and local government, in the health service, and in public service partnerships are included. Finally, five practitioners present practical ‘vignettes’ of citizen involvement, local partnerships, and quality improvement in health, housing and local government.

Providing Quality in the Public Sector is essential reading for students and practitioners in the fields of public policy, local government, health, housing and the voluntary sector.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Lucy Gaster retired from the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham, and she is now an Honarary Senior Research Fellow there. She has had years of experience as a local government officer and 'community activist'.

Amanda Squires is a Clinical Governance Review Manager at the Commission for Health Improvement. She trained as a Chartered Physiotherapist working in South London in the highly interdisciplinary/multi-agency area of rehabilitation of older people. She has held health authority and academic quality improvement posts.

John Crawley, Michael Greenwood, Tessa Harding, Carol Hayden and Pat Scrutton contribute a chapter each to the book.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Open University Press
Publication date
2003
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0335209556
ISBN 13 
9780335209552
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
320

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780335209569: Providing Quality in the Public Sector: A Practical Approach to Improving Public Services (Public Policy & Management)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0335209564 ISBN 13:  9780335209569
Publisher: Open University Press, 2003
Hardcover