Description
Book SynopsisUNDERSTANDING SOCIAL POLICY In the eighth edition of this highly successful text, the authors seek to develop readers' appreciation of the key substantive areas of social policy but also the context and processes which surround their development.
With case studies reviewing contemporary topics and examples, new chapters, and a greater emphasis on key principles, themes, and issues within the policy areas, this revised and updated edition combines an assessment of the breadth of social policy study and considers policy changes since the previous edition.
Written for people who have had no previous training in the social sciences, with the needs of social workers, nurses, health visitors, and other social policy practitioners' very much in mind, as well as those studying social policy, the eighth edition of Understanding Social Policy brings a classic textbook right up to date.
Table of Contents
List of Tables x
Preface to the Eighth Edition xi
1 Studying Social Policy 1
Introduction 1
The Individual and Society 2
Rights and Obligations 5
Social Policy: Magpie, Jelly-baby or Side-salad? 10
The Content of this Book 12
Suggestions for Further Reading 15
2 The Shaping of Contemporary Social Policy 16
Introduction 16
Poverty and the State before the Welfare State 17
The Emergence of a ‘Welfare State’ in the Early Twentieth Century 25
Beveridge’s ‘Five Giants’ 33
The Welfare State after Beveridge 38
Suggestions for Further Reading 42
3 The Making of Social Policy 43
Introduction 43
The Representative Government Model 44
The Central Government System 45
Devolution 51
Local Government 56
The United Kingdom in Europe 57
The Global Context 59
The Voice of the People? 60
Influences on Policy Making 64
Ministerial Power: the Role of Officials and the Influence of Outside Groups and Policy Communities 69
Suggestions for Further Reading 74
4 Implementation 76
Introduction 76
Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Central Government 77
Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Local Government 78
Analysing Policy Implementation 84
Issues about the Shaping of Policy 85
Issues about ‘Layers’ in the Policy Transfer Process 87
Factors Affecting the Responses of Implementation Agencies 91
Horizontal Interorganizational Relationships 94
The Social, Political and Economic Environment 95
Conclusions 95
Suggestions for Further Reading 97
5 Social Security 98
Introduction 98
The Distinctive Characteristics of the UK System of Social Security 99
Contributory Benefits 101
Benefits that the State Requires the Employer to Provide 103
Non-contributory, Non-means-tested, Contingent Benefits 103
Means-tested Benefits 103
Tax Credits 106
Statistics on the Benefit System 106
Pension Reform 106
Problems with Means-testing 110
Social Security Assumptions about Family Life and Women’s Roles 114
Social Security Benefit Levels and Poverty 116
Conclusions 121
Suggestions for Further Reading 122
6 Employment Policy 123
Introduction 123
Alternative Approaches to Employment Policy 124
The Evolution of the UK Approach to Employment Policy 126
The Impact upon the UK of European Union Membership 129
The Main Employment Policy Measures 130
Training 132
Encouraging/Enforcing Labour Market Participation 134
Reducing Unemployment or Stimulating Employment? 137
Government Regulation of Work Conditions and Job Security 141
Employment and Social Policy: a European Future? 144
Conclusions 146
Suggestions for Further Reading 147
7 Health Policy 148
Introduction 148
The Organization and Management of the National Health Service 149
Patient Access to Health Services 152
The Financing of the National Health Service 155
Management and Professional Accountability 159
Need and the Rationing of the Health Service 161
Equality of Treatment: the Impact of the Private Sector 164
Equality of Treatment: Inequalities in Health and Medical Treatment 166
Health Policy or Illness Policy? 169
The Representation and Protection of the Public 170
Conclusions 173
Suggestions for Further Reading 174
8 Social Care for Adults 175
Introduction 175
An Overview of Social Care Services 176
Residential Care: a More Detailed Examination 180
Care Outside Residential Homes 183
Direct Payments and Personal Budgets 185
The Relationship between Personal Social Care and the Health Service 188
Needs and Priorities 190
Conclusions 193
Suggestions for Further Reading 194
9 Education and Children 195
Introduction 195
The Organization and Management of the State School System 196
Higher and Further Education 199
Child Care 200
Child Protection 203
Control over the Education System 207
The Government and the Curriculum 209
Diversity and Selectivity in the Education System 210
Education and the Disadvantaged 213
Education and Minority Ethnic Groups 216
Special Education and Other Welfare Measures 219
Conclusions 221
Suggestions for Further Reading 222
10 Housing 223
Introduction 223
How the Housing System Acquired its Present Shape 224
The Social Housing Sector 225
Owner-occupation 229
The Private Rented Sector 234
Homelessness 236
Social Exclusion and Residualization 237
Conclusions 240
Suggestions for Further Reading 242
11 The UK in the Wider World 243
Introduction 243
Policy Learning 244
Explaining the Shape of Developed Welfare States 247
Gender, Diversity and Culture in Comparative Theory 250
Comparing Social Policies 252
Social Policy from Above and Below 255
Conclusion: the UK in Comparative Context 256
Suggestions for Further Reading 259
12 Social Policy and Social Change 261
Introduction 261
Changes in the Family 262
Changes in Working Life 265
Changes in the UK Population 269
Conclusions 275
Suggestions for Further Reading 276
References 277
Index 289
