Consultancy in Public Services: Empowerment and Transformation

by Robert Adams, Wade Tovey

Overview

Based on the authors' twenty-five year experience of consultancy in the public services, this book develops an empowering approach to thinking about and doing consultancy with public services. It challenges the traditional view that the consultants are brought in as experts and instead examines ways of using consultancy to empower staff, patients, service users and members of the public, so that they can take part in developing, changing, innovating and ultimately transforming these services. The book includes chapters explaining consultancy, on preparing bids, on negotiations and on the importance of assessment and review which are geared towards the needs of those working in public and third sectors, either as or with consultants. It includes a glossary, abbreviations, helpful contacts and websites which are valuable for quick reference and to aid further understanding.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847424686
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Robert Adams, Emeritus Professor, School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, has carried out consultancies with many public sector organisations. He has researched and written widely on public services including health and social care. Wade Tovey, Assistant Dean Enterprise and Director of EPICC [Enhancing Practice and Innovation Centre for Care], School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University, has completed a wide variety of consultancy work in public services over the past 20 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part 1 Setting the scene 1

1 Introducing consultancy: an empowerment approach 3

Part 2 Doing consultancy 35

2 Negotiating 37

3 Contracting 53

4 Engaging 73

5 Empowering 111

6 Disengaging 149

Part 3 Reflèctions 159

7 Reflecting on contexts for consultancy 161

8 Reflecting on perspectives on consultancy 173

9 Doing consultancy and transforming public services 195

References 217

Appendix 1 Glossary of terms associated with consultancy 225

Appendix 2 List of abbreviations 229

Appendix 3 Intellectual property rights 231

Index 233

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This invaluable book genuinely breaks new ground in the use of consultancies, showing you how to work positively with staff to develop creative solutions in order to provide effective services." Brian Littlechild, University of Hertfordshire

Editorial Reviews

"The broad literature around consultancy has blossomed in recent years, but Robert Adams and Wade Tovey's book positions itself distinctively...[it's] greatest appeal is its stories from the front line." SRA Research Matters Magazine

From the Publisher

This invaluable book genuinely breaks new ground in the use of consultancies, showing you how to work positively with staff to develop creative solutions in order to provide effective services.”

Professor Brian Littlechild

The broad literature around consultancy has blossomed in recent years, but Adams and Tovey’s book positions itself distinctively. . . . [It’s] greatest appeal is its stories from the front line.

Social Research Association: Research Matters

The broad literature around consultancy has blossomed in recent years, but Adams and Tovey’s book positions itself distinctively. . . . [It’s] greatest appeal is its stories from the front line.

Social Research Association: Research Matters