Social issues and Ways that I Can Influence Social Policy in My Community - Essay Example

Social issues and Ways that I Can Influence Social Policy in My Community The British social policy directs the provision of social services and welfare to the citizens. The main departments dealing with social policy are parliament, cabinet office, the treasury, Department of Health, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Communities and Local Government, and Department of Education and Ministry Of Justice. Together with other government agencies, they work to provide social services to the people. Social services provided in the UK include social security, healthcare, housing and urban policy, education and personal social services. Some of the social services are provided for adequately. However, evidences of homelessness, child poverty, high smoking rates, reports of domestic violence, and denial of social benefits are an indication that there is a need to improve the British social policy. In this paper, I identify five social issues, existing policies relating to them and ways that I as a member of a community can influence social policy in my area. Issues and solutions No Smoking in Public Places Cigarette smoking is the leading avoidable cancer cause in the world. It is also one of the major causes of respiratory diseases including lung and throat cancer and this affects both smokers and non-smokers close to them. The existing UK government policy on smoking as introduced by the Department of Health was instituted under the premise that passive smoking is harmful to one’s health (UK Parliament, 2003). The policy further assumes that a smoke free environment is ideal. In support of the smokefree England policy, parliament enacted a law in July 2007 forbidding smoking in enclosed public places Public places include workplaces, restaurants, pubs and clubs, government buildings among other places. The policy is aimed at making commendable health gains due to reduced passive smoking and hopes to see smokers give up the behaviour. However, in my view, it does not fully protect the public and non-smokers generally from the effects of cigarettes. To improve this policy, I would recommend the ban of smoking in students’ halls of residence in learning institutions. University/college halls of residence should also be included because it represents a place that members of the public go to get some form of goods/services, in this case, education. A hostel does not, therefore, qualify to be private property on the part of students. In order to achieve this mission, I would rally the support of the Department of Health (DH). In particular, I will write a letter to Anne Milton MP who is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health). In the letter I will present reasons for my stand on the policy improvement. Social Security Benefits Policy There are five categories of social security benefits in the UK outlined by the UK parliament and policy that directs on who should get them. For example, social insurance benefits are earned through contributions made while working. This scheme therefore locks out the poor, low salaried and the unemployed (Walker 2004). The means tested-benefits like job seekers allowance could have been a solution to this. These are given based on a test of one’s assets, income or capital. This scheme helps to concentrate resources to those who are more needy. However, these benefits are difficult to administer and in most cases, they do not reach the people intended to get them because of the history of the means testing, stigma and continuously changing circumstances. There is need to increase the uptake of this type of social benefits among the poor. This will ensure the right people receive these benefits. The local authority will help to certify the people who truly qualify for these benefits. At the same time, they should also register retired people and other old age people and make follow up to ensure they are paid their retirement and old age pensions. This will help to reduce old age and post-retirement poverty. I will seek the help of government officials from the Department of Work and Pensions and local authorities to ensure fairer means-testing procedures are introduced. I will in particular fax the minister in charge. Child Poverty Policy Child poverty can be measured using parental income levels. Children of parents earning below a given threshold are considered to be living in poverty. To deal with this situation, the current social policy is committed to eradicate child poverty by 2020. One of the policies for dealing with child poverty that is currently in place is the out-of-work benefit. Under this policy, a couple with two children is given a 20% and 31% poverty gap before and after housing costs respectively. Under the same policy, a lone parent with one child is given 4% and 18% poverty gap before and after housing costs respectively (Evans and Scarborough 2006). The Child Poverty Act 2010 as passed by the UK parliament and assented to on 25 March, 2010 reinforces the policy. The Act was jointly sponsored by Her Majestys Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Department for Education. This policy makes a significant contribution in eradicating and avoiding child poverty. However, the policy needs to be expanded to cater for the needs of children whose parents lose their jobs at some point. To change this situation, I would advocate for the introduction of childcare allowance for unemployed parents with children below 18 years. In order to press for the expansion of the policy as stated above. I will book an appointment with Retired Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP from the Department of Work and Pensions on May 3, 2012 to discuss measures to cater for the needs of children whose parents are unemployed. Housing Policy (Homelessness) In the UK, housing supply is directed by demand and this in turn controls prices (Barlow and Duncan 1994). Millar (2003) states that homelessness in the UK society can be linked to four factors namely shortage of housing, entitlement to land, entitlement to housing and the personal situation of the homeless people like alcoholism. The lack of entitlement to land and housing are purely a result of poor financial abilities. However, shortage of housing aggravates this problem because it locks out the poor from accessing the existing houses. Evidently, the rich encroach to low-price estates meant for the poor raising the process of rent in these places. This increases the level of homelessness among the poor. As a matter of policy, the UK government is committed to ensuring adequate housing to its nationals without respect to age. The government, however, prioritises young vulnerable people in the provision of accommodation. The policy, established by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2005, however, needs to be expanded to incorporate the building of more county houses targeting the poor over the rich. In order to address this issue, I would write an email to the minister Department for Communities and Local Government. Policy against Domestic Violence A significant number of women are facing domestic violence in the UK and this has also been closely associated with child abuse. Women are protected by the Protection from Harassment Act l997 from harassment from ex-partners (Home Office l999). There are also domestic violence workplace policies like employee confidentiality to ensure that the assaulted person is protected from the assaulter. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is a section of the UK criminal justice that deals with domestic violence. Its policy is that all cases involving domestic violence must be prosecuted as long as there is enough evidence, and this should be done quickly to ensure that the victim is not put under pressure to withdraw the claims. The police is also involved in investigating cases of domestic violence and their policy is similar to that of CPS. However, these laws do not fully protect women and children from domestic violence from their assailants because they do not consider the circumstances and behaviour of such men when meeting the children. Some women still report being assaulted and/or abused by their ex-partners as they come to meet the children. The policy should be expanded to state the times and places where offenders can meet their children after separation. Violent fathers should be allowed to meet their children only in public places and in the company of their mothers. To achieve this, I will call the CPS office and air out my views to the officer in charge on a weekday. Conclusion There is a need to improve the existing UK social policies to ensure that they adequately tackle various social issues. Evidently, the existing social policies have addressed most of these issues for example housing, education, poverty, justice, personal social needs and health. However, these policies need to be reviewed to ensure that they tackle these issues at a more specific level like smoking, child poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and lack of access to or denial of social security benefits. The provision of these services is the function of various government departments and agencies. However, the improvement of such policies at the community level requires the help of the local MP, local authorities and officials from the specific and most relevant departments. The officers in charge may be reached by telephone, email, letter, face-to face and fax. References Barlow, J. and Duncan, S. (1994). Success and failure in housing provision. Pergamon Press. London. Evans, M. and Scarborough, J. (2006). “Can current policy end child poverty in Britain by 2020?” online: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/can-current-policy-end-child-poverty-britain-2020. Accessed on 29th February, 2012. Home Office (l999) Living without Fear: An integrated approach to tackling violence against women. London: Home Office 1` Millar, J. (2003). Understanding social security. Policy Press. Bristol. UK Parliament (2003) Smoking in Public Places http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/pn206.pdf Accessed on 29th February, 2012. Walker, R. (2004). Social security and welfare. Open University Press. Milton Keynes. Read More