By Vivien Martin
Taylor and Francis
£16.99
ISBN 0 415 27620 9

The importance of project management skills to the delivery of health and social care services is increasingly well understood. This tightly written book is an A-Z of how to plan and finish individual projects, including those within mainstream services. Nearly any change can be delivered if it is managed correctly, assuming the politics is supportive and the resources available.

However, staff skilled in project management remain relatively rare, which partly explains why many new government initiatives such as Supporting People and Sure Start are missing some of their deadlines. If projects start to drift, the cost can be high, especially those that are building-based where inflation can top 20 per cent in parts of London and the South East.

The book is easy on the eye and the mind, reflecting the trend towards workbook writing - short, punchy sections with plenty of case examples and activities.

Social care today is dominated by action plans, improvement strategies and new projects, all of which benefit from a task and finish, project management-based approach. This book will help service and project managers and should be key to the development of local project management communities.

Anthony Douglas is director of social care and health, Suffolk Council.