Understanding Social Policy

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.

• List of Tables xPreface to the Eighth Edition xi1 Studying Social Policy 1Introduction 1The Individual and Society 2Rights and Obligations 5Social Policy: Magpie, Jelly-baby or Side-salad? 10The Content of this Book 12Suggestions for Further Reading 152 The Shaping of Contemporary Social Policy 16Introduction 16Poverty and the State before the Welfare State 17The Emergence of a ‘Welfare State’ in the Early Twentieth Century 25Beveridge’s ‘Five Giants’ 33The Welfare State after Beveridge 38Suggestions for Further Reading 423 The Making of Social Policy 43Introduction 43The Representative Government Model 44The Central Government System 45Devolution 51Local Government 56The United Kingdom in Europe 57The Global Context 59The Voice of the People? 60Influences on Policy Making 64Ministerial Power: the Role of Officials and the Influence of Outside Groups and Policy Communities 69Suggestions for Further Reading 744 Implementation 76Introduction 76Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Central Government 77Structures for Policy Implementation: Under Local Government 78Analysing Policy Implementation 84Issues about the Shaping of Policy 85Issues about ‘Layers’ in the Policy Transfer Process 87Factors Affecting the Responses of Implementation Agencies 91Horizontal Interorganizational Relationships 94The Social, Political and Economic Environment 95Conclusions 95Suggestions for Further Reading 975 Social Security 98Introduction 98The Distinctive Characteristics of the UK System of Social Security 99Contributory Benefits 101Benefits that the State Requires the Employer to Provide 103Non-contributory, Non-means-tested, Contingent Benefits 103Means-tested Benefits 103Tax Credits 106Statistics on the Benefit System 106Pension Reform 106Problems with Means-testing 110Social Security Assumptions about Family Life and Women’s Roles 114Social Security Benefit Levels and Poverty 116Conclusions 121Suggestions for Further Reading 1226 Employment Policy 123Introduction 123Alternative Approaches to Employment Policy 124The Evolution of the UK Approach to Employment Policy 126The Impact upon the UK of European Union Membership 129The Main Employment Policy Measures 130Training 132Encouraging/Enforcing Labour Market Participation 134Reducing Unemployment or Stimulating Employment? 137Government Regulation of Work Conditions and Job Security 141Employment and Social Policy: a European Future? 144Conclusions 146Suggestions for Further Reading 1477 Health Policy 148Introduction 148The Organization and Management of the National Health Service 149Patient Access to Health Services 152The Financing of the National Health Service 155Management and Professional Accountability 159Need and the Rationing of the Health Service 161Equality of Treatment: the Impact of the Private Sector 164Equality of Treatment: Inequalities in Health and Medical Treatment 166Health Policy or Illness Policy? 169The Representation and Protection of the Public 170Conclusions 173Suggestions for Further Reading 1748 Social Care for Adults 175Introduction 175An Overview of Social Care Services 176Residential Care: a More Detailed Examination 180Care Outside Residential Homes 183Direct Payments and Personal Budgets 185The Relationship between Personal Social Care and the Health Service 188Needs and Priorities 190Conclusions 193Suggestions for Further Reading 1949 Education and Children 195Introduction 195The Organization and Management of the State School System 196Higher and Further Education 199Child Care 200Child Protection 203Control over the Education System 207The Government and the Curriculum 209Diversity and Selectivity in the Education System 210Education and the Disadvantaged 213Education and Minority Ethnic Groups 216Special Education and Other Welfare Measures 219Conclusions 221Suggestions for Further Reading 22210 Housing 223Introduction 223How the Housing System Acquired its Present Shape 224The Social Housing Sector 225Owner-occupation 229The Private Rented Sector 234Homelessness 236Social Exclusion and Residualization 237Conclusions 240Suggestions for Further Reading 24211 The UK in the Wider World 243Introduction 243Policy Learning 244Explaining the Shape of Developed Welfare States 247Gender, Diversity and Culture in Comparative Theory 250Comparing Social Policies 252Social Policy from Above and Below 255Conclusion: the UK in Comparative Context 256Suggestions for Further Reading 25912 Social Policy and Social Change 261Introduction 261Changes in the Family 262Changes in Working Life 265Changes in the UK Population 269Conclusions 275Suggestions for Further Reading 276References 277Index 289