Understanding Social Policy

by Hill, Michael; Irving, Zoë M.

• ISBN13: 9781405181761
• ISBN10: 1405181761
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-02
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

The eighth edition of this successful textbook provides a student-friendly assessment of the key substantive areas of social policy and the context and processes which surround their development. Written to engage students across the health and social sciences as well as those studying social policy as a main subject Features a greater emphasis on key principles, themes, and issues, an overview of recent policy changes, broader coverage of the historical and global context, and new chapters on social care for adults and on education and children Uses case studies and other text box material to illustrate the contents of each chapter Provides an accessible introduction to key areas of policy while inviting readers to consider these in historical, social, and comparative context Investigates current constitutional changes and their potential impact upon social policy

Author Biography

Michael Hill is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Visiting Professor at Queen Mary College, University of London and the University of Brighton. He is the author of numerous books on Social Policy and the study of policy processes.

Zoë Irving is lecturer in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Sheffield. She is co-editor of Policy Reconsidered, Meanings Politics and Practices (2007) and has published in the areas of gender and employment and learning and teaching Social Policy.

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Preface to the Eighth Edition

Studying Social Policy

Introduction

The Individual and Society

Rights and Obligations

Social Policy: Magpie, Jelly-baby or Side-salad?

The Contents of this Book

Suggestions for Further Reading

The Shaping of Contemporary Social Policy

Introduction

Poverty and the State before the Welfare State

The Emergence of a 'Welfare State' in the Early Twentieth Century

Beveridge's 'Five Giants'

The Welfare State after Beveridge

Suggestions for Further Reading

The Making of Social Policy

Introduction

The Representative Government Model

The Central Government System

Devolution

Local Government

The United Kingdom in Europe

The Global Context

The Voice of the People?

Influences on Policy Making

Ministerial Power: the Role of Officials and the Influence of Outside Groups and Policy Communities

Suggestions for Further Reading

Implementation

Introduction

Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Central Government

Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Local Government

Analysing Policy Implementation

Issues about the Implications of the Way Policy is Formed

Issues about 'Layers' in the Policy Transfer Process

Factors Affecting the Responses of Implementation Agencies

Horizontal Interorganizational Relationships

The Social, Political and Economic Environment

Conclusions

Suggestions for Further Reading

Social Security

Introduction

The Distinctive Characteristics of the UK System of Social Security

Contributory Benefits

Benefits that the State Requires the Employer to Provide

Non-contributory, Non-means-tested, Contingent Benefits

Means-tested Benefits

Tax Credits

Statistics on the Benefit System

Pension Reform

Problems with Means-testing

Social Security Assumptions about Family Life and Women's Roles

Social Security Benefit Levels and Poverty

Conclusions

Suggestions for Further Reading

Employment Policy

Introduction

Alternative Approaches to Employment Policy

The Evolution of the UK Approach to Employment Policy

The Impact upon the UK of European Union Membership

The Main Employment Policy Measures

Training

Encouraging/Enforcing Labour Market Participation

Reducing Unemployment or Stimulating Employment?

Government Regulation of Work Conditions and Job Security

Employment and Social Policy: a European Future?

Conclusions

Suggestions for Further Reading

Health Policy

Introduction

The Organization and Management of the National Health Service

Patient Access to Health Services

Management and Professional Accountability

The Financing of the National Health Service

Need and the Rationing of the Health Service

Equality of Treatment: the Impact of the Private Sector

Equality of Treatment: Inequalities in Health and Medical Treatment

Health Policy or Illness Policy?

The Representation and Protection of the Public

Conclusions

Suggestions for Further Reading

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.