As public spending cuts bite, joint working between health and social care is more important than ever before - but even harder to achieve. Following a series of high profile reforms and policy announcements, this substantially updated second edition highlights key developments under both the UK New Labour (1997-2010) and the Coalition governments (2010-), focusing on the key policy and practice dilemmas facing community health and social services. With partnership working now part of core business rather than an optional extra, this book is essential reading for anyone studying or working in health and social care. It provides practical material to populate the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of social policy students, and conceptual material to help make sense of the practical experience of professional students on training courses. It also appeals to both a social care and a health care audience - and particularly to those who seek to work such boundaries.