The Age of the Inquiry explores the plethora of inquiry reports published in the fields of health and welfare in the 1990s covering the full range of user groups, individuals and institutions. Focusing on service and policy development, it provides an invaluable text for students, teachers and professionals with an interest in health and social care, social policy and sociology.

Introduction: The inquiry as Janus, Nicky Stanley and Jill Manthorpe Part 1: Participating in inquiries 1. Mental health inquiries – ‘Cui Bono?’, Herschel Prins 2. The family’s perspective, Paul and Audrey Edwards 3. Staff and patient perspectives on the Fallon Inquiry into the Personality Disorder Service at Ashworth High Secure Hospital, Pete Melia Part 2: Inquiries into child abuse and deaths 4. The impact of child abuse inquiries since 1990, Eileen Munro 5. From Cornwall to Climbé: Inquiring into fatal child abuse, Peter Reder and Sylvia Duncan 6. The costs and benefits of the North Wales Tribunal Inquiry, Brian Corby Part 3: Inquiries into mental health homicides 7. Mental health inquiries, assertive outreach and compliance: Is there a relationship, Andrew McCulloch and Camilla Parker 8. Women and mental health inquiries, Nicky Stanley 9. Mental health inquiries 1985-2003, Dave Sheppard Part 4: Inquiries into the abuse of people with learning disabilities 10. Learning disability, abuse and inquiry, Rachel Fyson, Deborah Kitson and Alan Corbett 11. Abuse inquiries as learning tools for social care organisations, Paul Cambridge Part 5: Inquiries into the abuse and neglect of older people 12. Older people, institutional abuse and inquiries, Bridget Penhale and Jill Manthorpe 13. Inspections and inquiries, Roger Clough and Jill Manthorpe