across the United Kingdom brings together the perspectives of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners from across England, Wales and Scotland to produce a rich, up-to-date and highly textured source of evidence about this under-researched sector. The contributors analyse how each country’s approach to national policy, organisation, governance and practice operates and show that by understanding this in-depth, one can move beyond simplistic comparisons, policy borrowing and idealisations towards a more effective mode of government in the future.