Legislative frameworks developed over the past five decades in order to meet the objectives of the ruling political parties, social policies have produced a mixed result both on the social plan working practices and a range of adult service user groups. The enactment of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, hereinafter referred to as NHSCCA 1990, radically changed the philosophy and theoretical concept underlying the provision of adult social care services in the United Kingdom (Brayne and Carr 2008: 438 ). This change effectively introduced free market concepts into the provision of adult social care services by making it possible for these services to be provided by private and voluntary providers. In other words, this concept makes all local authorities facilitators rather than direct service providers. However, it is important to mention here that this change did not happen suddenly with the introduction of this legal framework. As Brayne and Carr (2008) eloquently point out, "social service departments already had a wide range of powers and duties and were able to provide services directly or arrange with voluntary providers or commercial to meet the needs of vulnerable people” (ibid).The ratification of the NHSCCA was the culmination of a series of ongoing developments in social policy and legal frameworks in four distinct phases: namely; (1) the Victorian Industrial Revolution phase; (2) the phase that begins during and in the postwar period and includes the first two decades; (3) the period between 1970 and the coming to power of the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher as well as the period up to the election of the Labor government in 1997 and (4) the period thereafter. Middle of paper is the policy that the Conservative government relied on to introduce market principles into the delivery of public services. The fundamental economic policy of the welfare state, however, the economic recession of 1970 challenged a new dimension of government purchasing power. This actually meant that ambitious social policy based on the principle of universalism became untenable. The central government, led by the Labor government, to free itself from direct public discontent, considered introducing new legislation which would effectively delegate all powers and duties for the provision of adult social care to local authorities. This hidden government agenda resulted in the creation of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. This Act successfully entrusted local authorities with the provision of adult social care services..