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23 Critical Soc. Pol'y 5 (2003)

handle is hein.journals/critsplcy23 and id is 1 raw text is: Q JILL C. HUMPHREY New Labour and the regulatory reform of social care Abstract In its mission to modernize public services, the New Labour government has placed a great deal of faith in the ever expanding regulatory apparatus. A partnership between the Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate has resulted in joint reviews of social services authorities, and these have become the vehicle for comparing performance across author- ities and ascertaining compliance with central government policies. This article draws upon a theoretical analysis of New Labour and Audit Commission texts and an empirical study of joint reviews in action. It seeks to: unpick the meanings of 'modernization' in relation to social services organizations and the social work profession; explore the position and perspectives of joint reviewers as they mediate between the often warring factions of central and local government; and, finally, expose the underlying value conflicts of the New Labour mission as it attempts to reconcile scientific, economic, political and welfare values. Key words: joint reviews, modernization, resources, social work, value conflict Introduction The Audit Commission was established under Thatcher's New Right government to promote the three Es of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government. The Labour party registered its opposition to a quango that operated according to a quantitative paradigm and imposed standardized prescriptions upon all authorities (Labour Party, 1991). However, the New Labour government has presided over a massive expansion of the regulatory apparatus. For example, the Audit Commission Act 1998 legislated for a variety of audit inspection partnerships and the Local Government Act 1999 Copyright @ 2003 Critical Social Policy Ltd 74 0261-0183 (200302) 23:1 SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), Vol. 23(1). 5-24; 030491 5

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