Abstract
Best Value is a new system of local authority purchasing being introduced by the UK Government, which is designed to replace compulsory competitive tendering with arrangements which take account of quality as well as costs. In the context of social care, Best Value is also part of a broader move to better monitor social services performance and establish service standards proposed by the Department of Health. Services for people with learning disabilities will be included in Best Value, and purchasers and providers will need to review their current systems to fit with those required by Best Value. The present paper draws on evidence from research and service development to explore the problems and potentials of Best Value in services for people with learning disabilities, and to identify review and action points for managing its implementation.