The Impact of Political Ideology on the Development of Social Policy in Britain - Essay Example

? Social Policy Social Policy in Britain Social policies address avenues to attain fundamentals of human welfare. A social policy articulates diverse services to satisfy the welfare of society members. Social policies aim at improving the welfare of the population. A commendable number of social policies address social inequalities among the society’s members. Such inequalities include those related to class, race and gender. Social policies, therefore, serve as collective response to discuss societal concerns. Social policy concerns emerge with changes and reforms in the society (Ken & Edwin, 2007, p. 265). Social policy in Britain: Historical overview The history of social policy in the UK traces from the period before the Second World War. After the war, there were notable advancements in the British social policy. The liberal government in Britain initiated the initiation of contemporary social services in the country. Achieving national efficiency was the main ideology that triggered the establishment most social policies in the country. National efficiency was an apprehension promoted by the stigma connected to pauperism during the early 20th century. The post second world war period featured diverse changes in social policy in Britain. Reversing the provisions of the Poor Law passed in 1834 in the country also informed the initiation of contemporary social policies in Britain. After the second war, the British administration focused on eliminating the societal impacts caused by the stigma of pauperism. The period between 1918 and 1921 marked reforms in the British social policy system. The 1919 Addison Act was a key legislation the provided for the financing of housing. Most council workers were the beneficiaries of the housing units provided under the Addison Act. In 1925, the government initiated a Pensions Act. Widows, orphans and citizens in their old age were the major beneficiaries of the legislation. It acted as an insurance program for widows, orphans and the elderly in the country. In 1927, the government initiated a program to implement transitional payment for its unemployed citizens. In 1932, the country’s royal commission to address unemployment in Britain enhanced social policy. The Unemployment Act passed in 1934 boosted the welfare of the low-income members of the British society. In 1942, the Beveridge report marked a great advancement in boosting the welfare of British citizens. The report proposed a system of national insurance. It focused on three vital provisions. The report provided for family allowance offered to British citizens. It also provided for a national health service. It proposed the adoption of full employment for the citizens of Britain. This promoted the adoption of the welfare state in the country. The welfare state prioritized social policy provisions to the citizens (Geyer, Mackintosh & Lehmann, 2005, p. 168). Implementation of the policy prompted the adoption of the Keynesianism principles. Keynesianism demanded the government’s intervention to ensure economic stability in the country. Spending on welfare, as envisioned in Keynesian economics principles, was vital for economic regulations. Notably Keynesian policies include open universal education supported by the government. The policies promote support to the society members in form of family allowances. After the 1945 elections, there were vital acts related to social policy. In 1946, the labour government administration introduced a major insurance legislation. The National Insurance Act passed in 1946 was under the implementation roles of the Beveridge scheme that promote social security. An act to enhance quality health care services in Britain also came into effect in 1946. This was the 1946 National Health Service legislation. The Assistance Act enacted in 1948 commissioned the provision of basic welfare services in Britain. The law, national assistance legislation, abolished the Poor Law that limited the provision of basic welfare services. The poor laws turned inapt to address the social welfare concerns of the society members (Jones, K 2006, p. 1). Enhanced by the children act passed in 1948, the laws were imperative in ensuring the provision of basic welfare services to British citizens. After 1948, there was a near complete setting of the welfare state. There were basic provisions of the welfare state that were important in enhancing the provision of social welfare of the society members. Social security became part of the welfare state. Social security concerns of the population developed into a major concern among British citizens in the welfare state. Health was a central concern that the welfare state considered vital for its citizens. Housing concerns were of interest in ensuring proper social welfare of the population. Education was a fundamental element embraced by the welfare state in the provision of welfare services to the British citizens. Issues of welfare and children received recognition in the welfare state. The central objective of the welfare state was to provide essential social demands to its citizens through improving the value of public services. Social policy on Health Health care is a vital social service since every citizen has an entitlement towards an affordable, accessible and quality health care service. Most governments consider health care as a core social service that all citizens should receive. The British government is no exception. Financing health care services is among the fundamental roles of governments (Morris, 2006, p. 65). The development of welfare in the country started after 1948. This was after the formation of the Nation Health Service. It provided that all citizens have the right to life. The program was the main achievement of the welfare state in improving the living standards of British citizens. Health care access turned to be a right that all individuals should receive. It promoted the entitlement to medical examination and care by a qualified practitioner. All citizens have formal rights to receive emergency health care services. The NHS aimed to protect all citizens including the low-income and homeless. All citizens should have access to resources regardless of whether they can afford them. The NHS promoted the provision of hospital resources. Hospitals dominate the expenditure of NHS. Although there was notable challenge of unequal distribution of resources, NHS initiated commendable progress in enhancing the health care standards of the population. Primary care was a vital focus of the NHS. Health services provided by local authorities were of equal significance in improving the population health. Housing policy in Britain Establishing a proper housing policy depends extensively on the economic conditions in a country. Concerns of inadequate housing are among the factors that promote the initiation of the housing policy. Provision of affordable housing is a central social demand that governments must address. Homelessness was a notable concern among the British citizens especially in the 1930s. Shortage of housing was a significant cause of homelessness in the country. Deprivation also escalates housing concerns. Housing standards was a notable policy concern in most European countries (Kleinman, Matznetter & Stephens, 2013, p. 141). Slum estates came up in the public and private sectors with the low income groups being the most affected. Social segregation escalated the challenge of attaining proper housing units in the country. Urban policy is imperative to initiate development of affordable and sufficient housing units. Inappropriate and inadequate urban policy in Britain contributed to the poor housing in Britain. Unfavorable social development that did not promote social inclusion contributed to improper housing policy. Area-based policies that concentrated housing provision within cities promoted unequal development in other parts of the country. Developing a proper housing policy in Britain depended on land tenure and owner occupations. Until the 20th century, slow reforms in land tenure in the country contributed to poor housing policy in Britain. However, changes experienced in the social housing sector were a boost to enable the government provides affordable and adequate housing for its citizens. Provision of council housing to was the most dominant remedy to housing challenges in the country. Building societies contributed to the success of the policy in Britain through owner-occupations. Reforms in the housing policy came after 1970 after conservatives withdrawn the services of providing council housing. After the withdrawal, council housing services only benefited individuals with special needs. Withdrawal of subsidies and subsequent replacement with housing benefits was a major drawback in the provision of housing to the citizens. Education policy Education, as envisioned in the human rights act, is a fundamental provision that all individuals should attain. Education policy in the Britain started with the introduction of education acts. The dominant notion that informed the enactment of education policies was the need to ensure equality. Education policies in Britain focused on ensuring a non-selective system that offers comprehensive and quality services. In the 1960s, the government initiated a comprehensive education policy that would address concerns of discrimination and segregation in the British education system. Protecting the rights of all citizens despite their social class was a significant consideration made in the formulation of education policies in Britain. Equality and opportunity informed the essential educational standards set by various related legislations. They eliminated the previous selective system. According to Sally (2008, p. 128), social inclusion formed the basis of most education policies in Britain. The need to provide education opportunities to population in the inner city areas was a vital driver of policies. Subsequent enactment of legislations to provide for education in actions zones also had its basis on the need for empowerment in marginalized areas. The conservative government introduced mechanisms for assessment of curriculum to instill quality. Assessment of outcomes of the education system was a central provision in the policies on education in Britain. Initiatives were also important in helping the government to allocate funds in support of education. Personal social services Provision of personal social services is important in enhancing the welfare standards of citizens. In Britain, personal social services provision was a plausible success since the setting up of three departments to undertake the services. Public health services were under the health department. Welfare department provided residential care for the elderly in the society. The disabled also benefited from the services of the welfare department. Personal social services such as childcare also improved with the initiation of programs provided under the children’s care department. Personal social services provision later developed into social work provided as a profession in Britain by the 1960s. In the 1990s, community care policies came into operation after the 1988 Griffiths report. Integration of children services in education also contributed to the success of such policies. The health department oversees various social care services provision and the education department implements children’s services. Children’s services departments serve as administrative forums in the provision of personal social services to the citizens of Britain. Adult social care is an establishment in Britain. Departments are in place to provide social care for the disabled, elderly and individuals suffering from mental health complications. Ideological concerns Ideologies are notions and premises that guide, support, initiate and influence social policy (Walsh, Stephens & Moore, 2000, p.18). Key ideologies associated with social policies in Britain include the new right. Social democratic ideologies were equally imperative in influencing social policy in Britain. There were radical socialist and feminist ideologies the informed social policies in Britain. Ensuring an anti-racist approach to achieving equality was a vital ideology embraced by the British population. Social policy makers had a central objective of addressing concerns of racism that affected the country. Eliminating anti-racism was among the main social policy goals in Britain (Alcock, May & Wright, 2012, p. 53). Welfare issues also addressed ideologies of providing affordable health care to the society members. Before the development of social policy on healthcare, there were prevailing health concerns affecting the low-income members of the society. Equality in access to education informed most social policy initiatives in Britain. Social needs were important principles that informed social policymaking. Diverse groups in the society including children, elderly and disabled have different needs that social policies must fulfill. Universal human needs such as housing and appropriate education were of notable influence in the formulation of social policies. The UK has diverse social policy provisions. The government recognizes the necessity to embrace human welfare, equality and fulfillment of human rights. Education, health and housing are fundamental human rights provisions that governments must strive to offer to their citizens. Provision of personal services such as care for the elderly and disabled in the society constitutes recognition of human rights provisions as envisioned in international agreements and British laws. Diverse ideological concerns informed social policy formulations in Britain during the post world war II period. Attaining equality and appreciation of diversity in the U.K. formed the basis of social policies as ideologies. References Alcock, P, May, M & Wright, S 2012, The Student's Companion to Social Policy, Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons. Geyer, R, Mackintosh, A & Lehmann, K 2005, Integrating UK and European Social Policy: The Complexity of Europeanisation, Oxon, OX: Radcliffe Publishing. Jones, K 2006, Making of Social Policy in Britain: From the Poor Law to the New Labor, Third Edition, New York, NY: Continuum. Ken, B & Edwin, G 2007, Social Policy: An Introduction, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill International. Kleinman, M, Matznetter, W & Stephens, M 2013, European Integration and Housing Policy, Oxon, OX: Routledge. Morris, Z 2006, Policy Futures for UK Health, Oxon, OX: Radcliffe Publishing. Sally, T 2008, Race And Education: Policy And Politics In Britain: Policy and Politics in Britain, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill International. Walsh, M, Stephens, P & Moore, S 2000, Social Policy and Welfare. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Read More