Social Policy: Theory and practice is a fully revised, updated and extended edition of a bestselling social policy textbook, extensively reworked and adapted to meet the needs of its international readership. The book lays out the architecture of social policy as a field of study, binding the discussion of theory to the understanding of social policy in practice. It aims to provide students and practitioners with a sense of the scope, range and purpose of the subject while developing critical awareness of problems, issues and common fallacies.
Written in an accessible and engaging style, it explains what social policy is and why it matters; looks at social policy in its social context; considers policy, the role of the state and the social services; explores issues in social administration and service delivery; and focuses on the methods and approaches of the subject. For practitioners, there are discussions of the techniques and approaches used to apply social policy in practice. For students, there are boxes raising issues and reviewing case studies, questions for discussion and a detailed glossary.
The book’s distinctive, path–breaking approach makes it invaluable for students studying social policy at a range levels, professionals and practitioners in the field of social policy.
429 CHAPTeR 20 Social policy for practice applying social policy Skills for social policy Social policy as a professional role Social policy as public service Social policy as an ethical activity applying social policy Any adequate understanding of social policy has to be able to identify the implications of policies for practice. There are three main areas of applied policy work: policy formation, public management, and policy analysis. • Policy formation The formation and development of policy depends on knowledge of the specific subject area and ideas
This edition of Social Policy Review marks the 40th anniversary of a publication from the UK Social Policy Association devoted to presenting an up-to-date and diverse review of the best in social policy scholarship. It includes a special Anniversary Preface celebrating the publication’s evolution and distinctive contributions. Continuing its reputation as a cutting edge, international publication in social policy, Part One of this edition analyses current developments under the UK’s Coalition Government across a range of key policy areas. Part Two includes an examination of social policy in ‘developing’ countries, including in Africa and the Arab nations. Part Three considers the fate of social welfare in countries among the worst hit by the ‘economic crisis’, including: Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Iceland.
Social Policy Review is essential reading for social policy academics and students and for anyone who is interested in the implications of government policy.
379 parT 4 THe MeTHodS ANd APProAcHeS oF SocIAl PolIcy
In this distinctive introduction Stephen Sinclair illuminates the subject of Social Policy by showing readers how Social Policy analysts think about welfare issues and policies.
From what influences the decision to have children to how everyday terms such as ‘youth crime’ or ‘poverty’ reveal the structural processes shaping society, the book illustrates the insights which Social Policy analysis offers to understanding the social world and its problems.
Written by an academic with extensive experience of teaching Social Policy analysis to new audiences, the book provides a stimulating introduction to the study of the factors and polices shaping wellbeing. Each chapter includes boxed summaries, applied examples illustrating key issues, and bullet points clarifying key concepts and theories.
1 CHAPTeR 1 introduction: the nature of social policy The nature of social policy Social policy and the academic disciplines The uses of theory Studying social policy The nature of social policy What is social policy? Social policy begins with the study of the social services and the welfare state. It developed from ‘social administration’, a field devoted to preparing people for work in the social services in practice. One of the best known descriptions of the field comes from David Donnison: The teaching of Social Administration began in Britain before
1 ONE Analysing social policies Analysing social policies: key points • Social Policy analyses social challenges and collective measures to enhance well-being. • Social Policy considers both scientific and moral questions. • Social Policy analysis extends beyond what is usually thought of as the ‘welfare state’. • There are four dimensions to Social Policy analysis: empirical, distributional, ethical and critical. • Theories and concepts are indispensable to Social Policy analysis. The qualities of a useful theory are consistency, comprehensiveness, parsimony
The field of social policy has a rich history but policies on the ground are undergoing intensive change. Governments around the world are responding to political, economic and financial pressures, many of them linked to the global economic crisis. National agendas typically have social policy at or close to the centre.
This latest edition of Social Policy Review presents an up-to-date and diverse review of the best in social policy scholarship. It brings together research by an exciting range of internationally renowned authors and examines important debates in British and international social policy. This edition includes a special focus in the third part on work, employment and insecurity.
Social Policy Review is essential reading for social policy academics and students and for anyone who is interested in the social and economic implications of government policy.
This edition of Social Policy Review presents an extensive analysis of the coalition government’s social policies. In an expanded first section, experts in a range of policy areas analyse the rationale behind, and implications of, government reforms, whilst the second section examines education policy in an international context. It is essential reading for social policy academics and students and for anyone who is interested in the implications of government policy.
