David Berridge is Professor of Child and Family Welfare in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol. He began his career as a residential social worker and has been a researcher for 25 years. He is the author of several books, chapters and articles. David was awarded the OBE in January 2005 for services to children. Cherilyn Dance is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Applied Social Research at the University of Bedfordshire. She previously worked at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, and her primary concern is with services for looked-after children. Jennifer Beecham is Professor of Health and Social Care Economics at the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Kent, and Principal Research Fellow at the PSSRU, London School of Economics and Political Science. Sarah Field is a researcher in the Department of Applied Social Studies at the University of Bedfordshire.