Evidence-based social care: Wheels off the runway?

British social services departments are a beleaguered species. Political id eology continues to play a major role in shaping policy and practice, despi te a change of government. Sheltering beneath the ideological umbrella are more considered views of the need to rethink structures developed as a mean s of solving social problems and delivering services, some of which have th emselves become problematic, some of which are simply too expensive. These influences have combined radically to reframe the roles and responsibilitie s of many who work face-to-face With service users and carers. It is in thi s context of change and threat to professional identity that the implementa tion of evidence-based approaches to policy and practice within social work has to be considered.