Social Policy as Seen by Social Welfare Student - Essay Example

Topic: Lecturer: Presentation: Introduction Dean (2006 defines social policy as ‘the study of social relations necessary for human wellbeing and systems by which wellbeing may be promoted. It is concerned with the different ways that human beings care for and about each other regardless of the existence of a welfare state. Alcock, Erskine and May on the other hand, views social policy as the study of social issues, social problems, social groups, social services and the experiences of users (2003: 15). Though social policy entails fulfilment of social needs such as health care, housing, education and income maintenance there is a lot of controversy a to what constitutes social needs. Some believe that social needs are given while others are of the view that needs are socially constructed but all agree that there are certain needs that need to be taken care of. Social policy as an academic discipline is concerned with the systematic evaluation of societies’ responses to those social needs and is interrelated with several other disciplines such as economics, politics, sociology, history and criminology. In this paper, the aim is to illustrate that social policy can directly affect our everyday life. This will be accomplished by first giving a clear definition of what is meant by social policy as many definitions do exist. Then, the meaning of social needs will be explored to determine how personal troubles are transformed into social problems requiring public intervention through social policies. Then the paper will discuss the various ways in which social policies are organized and delivered to citizens so as to enhance their wellbeing. This is through provision of government services such as education, health care, adequate housing and social security. The government partnership with various private enterprises is also crucial as Britain social policy is market oriented and universal and not monopolised and selective as it used to be in earlier days during the poor laws which were later transformed into welfare services. Social Policy Various social policy analysts have tried to show the complexity involved in defining social policy as it cuts across several other disciplines such as politics, economics, sociology, history and criminal justice among others. However, for Dean (2006: 1) there is no complexity as social policy simply entails the study of the social relations necessary for human wellbeing and the systems by which wellbeing may be promoted. It’s about the many and various things that affect the kinds of life that you and I and everyone can live. He prefers to use the term wellbeing as opposed to welfare as it shows how well people are as opposed to how well they do. The society does have various needs that are supposed to be met if its members are to have a meaningful life such as good health, education, housing, love and security. These needs are provided for by various bodies such as the government, non-governmental organizations, social groups, community organizations, businesses and families. However, this depends on what the society considers as needs that require attention since various societies or social groups have different needs depending on circumstances. Some needs such as health care are universal and basic and most welfare states strive to organize on how to ensure all individuals well being. Some needs are exclusive to certain groups of individuals such as the disabled, women and other marginalized groups. Social policy is part of public policies aimed at ensuring the wellbeing of all members of the society. According to Lavalette and Pratt (2006), the satisfaction of the basic human needs such as health care and education is too important to be left to the free market forces to allocate resources. Some form of intervention is needed to ensure distributive justice and equality for example, if the government does not intervene in ensuring that all citizens have a good health, then the economy would shrink due to low productivity and poverty since unhealthy individuals are not able to obtain a means of living. It is often said that the foundation of a healthy economy is a healthy nation hence the responsibility of government to formulate social policies that ensure its citizens are healthy. Dean (2006) also acknowledges the importance of needs in social policy organization. For him, the starting point of social policy is how societies have developed ways of meeting their basic needs which are determined objectively by other people. Besides basic social needs, other needs do exist in various communities which need to be addressed for promotion of well being. People with disabilities, children and the aged need special care and social policy ensures their wellbeing is taken care of. Some social problems such as those of single mothers, teenage and unmarried mothers are constructed by the society. These groups of individuals may not have needs but the society opinion of them as threat to security and to traditional family prompts the need to formulate social policies to deal with them. According to Lister (2010), social policies are influenced by social constructions thus not all personal troubles in society become public issues requiring public intervention. Her idea is supported by Dean (2006) who acknowledges that for something to be accepted as a need in social policy making, it has to be recognized by others. For example, an issue like domestic violence is a personal trouble in society but has not been recognized as a social problem requiring social policy intervention but single parenthood is a personal trouble widely recognized as a social problem requiring intervention. Poverty is also a social construction of society that has achieved various policy responses from the state especially through social security benefits. Organization and Delivery of Welfare in Britain Britain has an institutional welfare based on universality. The welfare services are provided to all citizens and not only to the poor populations as is in some countries. In earlier times, welfare was based on poor laws where entitlement was based on the male as the breadwinner hence women were considered as dependants and many female issues were ignored (Lavalette & Pratt, 2006). Nowadays, women are engaged in employment and can receive benefits entitled to male counterparts such as health care. The health of citizens is ensured through the National Health Service (NHS) and every citizen in Britain has a right to be registered with a general practitioner and be medically examined. The general practitioner visits patients at their residents when they make requests hence one does not have to go to hospital to get health care thus ensuring a healthy nation. However, the government also ensures provision of health services in hospitals for those not registered with practitioners. The education policy also entitles all citizens to free education from 5-16 years of age and also provides avenues for preparing individuals for the job market through training institutes while others proceed to higher education. This enables individuals to be able to compete in the job market hence fulfil heir needs. The social policy in Britain is also aimed at ensuring the citizens get the basic needs such as adequate nutritional food and water, adequate housing, health care, education and security through the criminal justice policies. These enable individuals to participate effectively in the social form of life and without them the individual will not have achieved his wellbeing. It is the duty and responsibility of the state to provide these needs to its citizens (Doyal & Gough, 1991). Families receive income support, housing benefits, and child benefits from the state funds obtained through tax collection and through contributions from those in employment. For example, people make contributions to national health insurance so as to receive health care but the state also provides funds to hospitals to ensure services and equipments are available. Those on low income are assisted to pay rent and the state also builds social houses where low rent is charged hence most low income earners can afford housing (Alcock, 2008). Welfare services in Britain used to be provided through bureaucracies and professionals who ensured efficient delivery of services. However, these were criticized by the society for serving self interests and not the interests of the society. The females were especially critical of male dominated organizations for welfare provision and stressed for inclusion of females in those institutions. To avoid such inconveniences, the British government has embraced the need to privatize the provision of some services allowing for competition in the market. Competition encourages innovations, wider choice and low cost services. The idea is based on public choice theory whereby the market is superior than state as a mechanism for distribution of services (Alcock et al. 2008). Health care used to be provided in hospitals but now users have the option of registering with general practitioners, private insurers. In provision of housing, home ownership is encouraged instead of relying on public housing and quasi markets are also available to enhance competitive provision of services such as schooling. The government also encourages competitive tendering of service provision thus ensuring effective services to the population hence promoting their wellbeing. The service providers also have the freedom to manage themselves thus providing quality and flexible services (Daly, 2011). Social policy is closely related to economic policy as social policy is an inter-disciplinary subject. Most social policies are formulated in response to government’s economic policy on demand side macroeconomic management. Government provision of services is part of fiscal policy aimed at managing the demand side of the economy thus government spending affects social policies in many ways. According to survey, the British government spends more on pensions and social security benefits than housing (Daly & Rake, 2003). However, they observe that public spending is not a true indicator of extent to which social policy may affect our lives hence a study of social, economic and political processes is essential in understanding wellbeing. Social policy as a form of demand side macroeconomic management is evident in various social policies such as those aimed at reducing unemployment. Most of the benefits such as health insurance and social security benefits are tied to employment to encourage people to take up employment. Those who are employed can take up private insurance through their employers and also make contributions from their earnings to access health insurance. Pensions are based on earnings from employment whereby individuals contribute while working and receive payments in retirement or unemployment insurance where they receive compensation in case of job loss thus maintaining their wellbeing. The welfare to work programmes are also aimed at reducing workless households thereby minimize poverty and achieve economic growth (Spicker, 2008). If individuals earn income, they consume and hence create demand and more investments in the economy hence economic growth. Government taxes are also aimed at provision of services such as health care, education alongside other services such as infrastructure. Conclusion Social policy affects the everyday life of human beings. Human beings need to satisfy their needs in order to achieve wellbeing and due to economic constraints, this may not be possible. However, the government through social policies which results from demands from the society makes it possible for them to have a good life. For example, if one is unhealthy, one is not capable of attaining a means of livelihood but through health policy the health of individuals is ensured through constant checks and treatments. Social policies also ensure sustenance of basic needs such as education, housing and health care and achievement of universal rights. The government can provide these services directly to manage the demand side macroeconomics and ensure wellbeing of citizens or may engage the services of private organizations to as to ensure efficient and quality delivery of services to users. References Alcock, P., Erskine, A., May, M (eds)(2003) The Students’ Companion to Social Policy. Oxford: Blackwell Alcock, P., May, M. and Rowlingson (2008) The Students’ Companion to Social Policy. 3edn. Oxford: Blackwell Alcock, P. (2008) Social Policy in Britain. 3edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Daly, M. (2011) Welfare. 3 edn. Cambridge: Polity Press Daly, M., Rake, K (2003) Gender and the Welfare State: Care, Work, and Welfare in Europe and USA. UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Dean, H (2006) Social Policy. Cambridge: Polity Doyal, L., Gough, I (1991) A Theory of Human Need. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Lavalette, M., Pratt, A. (2006) Social Policy: Theories, Concepts and Issues. 3 edn. London: Sage Publications Lister, R. (2010) Understanding Theories and Concepts in Social Policy. Bristol: The Policy Press Spicker, P (2008) Social Policy: Themes and Approaches. UK: Polity Press. Read More