As the government continues to open up child protection and social work in England to a commercial market place, what is the social cost of privatising public services? What effect has the failure of previous privatisations had on their provision?

Join us for this talk and book launch by best-selling author and social worker, Ray Jones. He discusses these issues in his new book: In whose interest? The privatisation of child protection and social work. He examines the out-sourcing of crucial social work services and how this trend threatens the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and disabled adults.

Copies of Ray's book will be available for purchase on the night and Ray will be more than happy to sign copies at the end of his talk.

Speaker profiles

Dr Ray Jones started his four year degree in sociology and social work at the University of Bath fifty years ago in 1968 graduating in 1972 with the university’s first 1st class social work degree.

Ray is now emeritus professor of social work at Kingston University and St George’s, University of London and a registered social worker for over 40 years. He was a director of social services, chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, and chair of the British Association of Social Workers.

He is a frequent media commentator and author of six books, including the bestselling The Story of Baby P: Setting the record straight (Policy Press, 2014).