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

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.