Value for money in social welfare services?

There is an increasing focus on gaining ’value for money’ in all areas of public spending in the UK and worldwide . It is hard to conceptualise what this ’value for money’ means in relation to social welfare provision since the range of services provided through the public sector are so diverse. In relation to children’s welfare and protection, the services must cover: 1. protection from harm: physical and emotional; 2. protection from neglect; 3. prevention of harm and neglect. To evidence value for money these outcomes must be achieved.