To lead good care, social care managers must have professional and personal authority: a clear understanding of the core task and the emotional challenges of care, and the imagination to create an organisation or team dedicated to meeting people's needs.

This guide gives managers the understanding of systems of care and will inspire them to take the lead. Using the stories of four managers leading four different care services, John Burton explains the key issues and shows how, by focusing on the core task and taking the authority to lead, managers can transform social care. Furthermore, they will find their own work life-enhancing and immensely satisfying.