Synopses & Reviews
This fully revised, updated, and extended edition of a bestselling social policy textbook lays out the architecture of social policy as a field of study, combining theoretical discussions with discussions of social policy in practice. Paul Spicker provides readers with a sense of the scope, range, and purpose of social policy studies and helps foster a critical awareness of the problems that can beset it. He explains what social policy is and why it matters, looks at policy in a social context, considers the role of the state and social services in the larger public, and explores issues in administration and service delivery, all while surveying various methods and approaches to social policy studies. This third edition is the only general book on social policy written to meet the needs of an international readership.
Synopsis
Social Policy: Theory and practice is a fully revised, updated and extended edition of a bestselling social policy textbook, extensively reworked and adapted to meet the needs of its international readership. The book lays out the architecture of social policy as a field of study, binding the discussion of theory to the understanding of social policy in practice. It aims to provide students and practitioners with a sense of the scope, range and purpose of the subject while developing critical awareness of problems, issues and common fallacies. Written in an accessible and engaging style, it explains what social policy is and why it matters; looks at social policy in its social context; considers policy, the role of the state and the social services; explores issues in social administration and service delivery; and focuses on the methods and approaches of the subject. For practitioners, there are discussions of the techniques and approaches used to apply social policy in practice. For students, there are boxes raising issues and reviewing case studies, questions for discussion and a detailed glossary. The book's distinctive, path-breaking approach makes it invaluable for students studying social policy at a range levels, professionals and practitioners in the field of social policy.
About the Author
Paul Spicker is Grampian Chair of Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. His research has included studies of poverty, need, disadvantage and service delivery. He has written widely on the theory of social policy, while his studies of practice have included works on housing management, dementia services and social security.
Table of Contents
Introduction: the nature of social policy
Part 1: Social policy and society
Welfare in society
Inequalities
Problems and responses
Needs and welfare
Indicators - quantifying social issues
Part 2: Policy Public policy
Welfare states
Principles and values
Strategies for welfare
Policy in practice
Part 3: Social administration:The organisation and delivery of welfare
Welfare sectors
The organisation of public services
Value for money
Service delivery
Receiving welfare
The administrative process
Part 4: The methods and approaches of social policy
Research for policy
Evidence and policy
Social policy for practice