Social Policy

This website is an introduction to the study of social services and the welfare state. In general terms, it looks at the idea of social welfare, and its relationship to politics and society. More specifically, it also considers:

• policy and administration of social services, including policies for health, housing, income maintenance, education and social work;
• needs and issues affecting the users of services, including poverty, old age, health, disability, and family policy; and
• the delivery of welfare.

This site is a free, educational resource outlining the main issues.

Contents

Social Policy

The name of 'social policy' is used to refer to the policies which governments use for welfare and social protection, to the ways in which welfare is developed in a society, and to the academic study of the subject. In the first sense, social policy is particularly concerned with social services and the welfare state. In the second, broader sense, it stands for a range of issues extending far beyond the actions of government - the means by which welfare is promoted, and the social and economic conditions which shape the development of welfare.

The politics of welfare

• Government
• Ideology and social welfare
  • Marxism
  • Socialism
  • Social democracy
  • Conservatism and Christian Democracy
  • Liberal individualism
  • Populism
    
  • Fascism
  • Individual and social well-being
  • Solidarity
  • Justice
  • Freedom
  • Rights
  • Democracy
  • The state
  • Religious values and social policy

  Welfare states

  • Comparing welfare states
    • The United Kingdom
    • France
    • Germany
    • Sweden
    • Poland
    • United States
    • China
    • India
    • The social policy of the European Union
    • Social policy in developing countries
    • Globalization and welfare

    Welfare and society

    • The social structure
    • Family
      • The normal family
      • Lone parents
      • Teenage pregnancy
      • Patterns of work
      • The labour movement
      • Nations and welfare
      • Immigration and nationality
      • Deviance

      Social policy and interpersonal relations

      • People and society
        
      • The body
        • Birth and reproduction
        • Terminating pregnancy
        • Sexuality
        • Marriage
        • Death
        • Suicide
          
        • Law and social control
        • Morality
        • Stigma, discrimination and prejudice
        • Interpersonal violence
        • Public and private violence
        • Domestic violence
        • Child abuse

        Welfare and equality

        Social administration

        

        Social Policy is an applied subject; it was developed to meet the needs of people who would be working in the public services. Social administration is the area of the field concerned with the practicalities of service organisation and delivery. In the US, it is dealt with as 'public policy' or 'policy analysis'.
        

        • Welfare pluralism: the mixed economy of welfare
          • Public sector
          • Private sector
          • Voluntary sector
          • Mutual aid
          • Informal sector
        • Public services
          • The structure of social services
          • Social service management
          • The 'New Public Management'
            
          • Planning
          • Public finance
          • Evaluating policy
        • Service delivery
          • Targeting
          • Rationing
          • Discretion
          • Co-production
          • Empowering users

        Social need

        The idea of need refers at times to problems, at other times to the responses that services might make; for practical purposes, a need is a claim for service. This section looks at some of the main categories of need that lead people to rely on social service provision.

        • Need
          • Risk and vulnerability
          • Services for psychiatric patients
          • Normalisation

          Poverty

          Poverty has often been described in terms of low income and resources, but this does not capture the huge range of issues which it touches. 'Poverty' may refer to material conditions - needing goods and services, multiple deprivation, or a low standard of living; economic position - low income, limited resources, inequality or low social class; and the social position of the poor, through lack of entitlement, dependency or social exclusion.

          The social services

          Several pages on this website deal more specifically with the social services - systems of organisation that deal with essential needs for health care, housing, education, social work and financial support.

          • Health
            • Inequalities in health
            • Health care
          • Housing
            • Housing problems
            • Homelessness
            • Housing and deprivation
            • Urban policy
          • Social security
            • Social security benefits
            • Social insurance
            • Means testing
            • Non-contributory benefits
            • Universal benefits
            • Discretionary benefits
            • Conditionality
            • Pensions
            • Provision for disability and incapacity
            • Unemployment
              
            • Employment services
          • Personal social services
            • Community care
            • Social work
            • Services to criminal justice
          • Education
            • Models of education
            • Educational disadvantage

          The social policy of the United Kingdom

          • The government of welfare in the UK
            • The main government departments dealing with social policy in the UK
            • The administration of welfare in the UK
            • Local government
            • The welfare state after 1948
            • British economic policy

            History of British social policy 1601-1948

            • Before the Old Poor Law
            • The Old Poor Law
              • Settlement and removal
              • Workhouses under the Old Poor Law
              • Out relief
              • The workhouse under the New Poor Law
              • Public Health
              • Local Government
              • Education
              • Health services
              • The Liberal government
              • The inter-war period
              • The end of the Poor Law
                
              • The welfare state
                

              Social services in the UK

              This site has not been set up as an introduction to British social services, but there are sections in many pages which can be read as an introduction to British social policy.

              The website

              Information about this site.

              • About this website
              • About the author
              • A-Z of Subjects

              Resources

              Some advice about studying social policy, and where to find other material.

              • Social Policy on the Web
              • Readings in social policy
              • Advice to students
              • Blog
              • Menu
                
              • Introduction to Social Policy
              • A-Z
                
              • Social Policy
              • Social Policy
              • Social need
              • Poverty
              • Welfare & Society
              • Interpersonal relations
              • Welfare and Equality
              • Welfare States
              • Politics of welfare
              • 
                
              • Social Services
              • Social administration
              • Housing and urban policy
              • Health
              • Social security
              • Education
              • Personal Social Services
              • 
                
              • Social policy in the UK
              • UK Social Policy
              • Development 1601-1948
              • British social security
              • The NHS
              • Housing
              • Education
              • Personal social services
              • 
                
              • Resources
              • Online resources
              • Blog
              • Paul Spicker - online material
              • Readings in social policy
              • 
                
              • The website
              • About the website
              • Copyright
              • About the author
              • Top of page
              •