Introductory description

The module introduces students to the major historical developments in social welfare, reviews the major competing analytical ‘perspectives’ on the post Second World War British welfare state, and considers a variety of contemporary social welfare issues, focusing particularly on poverty and health policy.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Unit 1 – Social Policy in Practice - This unit will explore how social policy is interpreted, influenced, and implemented through a series of case studies on social security, education, housing, pensions, social services, health, youth crime and employment.
Unit 2 – Social Policy in Theory - This unit will explore a number of theoretical issues surrounding policy and welfare, including debates around structure and agency, the influence of ideology on policy-making, and the relationship between welfare and economics. Students will explore the impact of social divisions (class, gender, ethnicity, disability or age) on welfare provision.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the history and development of welfare provision in Britain from the 19th century to the present day.
• Identify the main ideological perspective which have influenced these developments and analyse state welfare using critical perspectives.
• Apply the historical and analytical understanding gained to the detailed investigation of a range of contemporary social welfare issues.
• Have further developed transferable skills such as analytical thinking, self-management, study skills, interpersonal skills and written and oral communication skills.

Indicative reading list

Béland, D. and Mahon, R. (2018) Advanced introduction to social policy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Bochel, H. and Daly, G. (2014) Social Policy, London: Prentice Hall
Brown, D. et al. (2018) The Oxford handbook of modern British Political History, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Fraser, D. (2017) The Evolution of the British Welfare State, London: Macmillan: 5th edition.
Gingrich, L. G. G. and Kongeter, S. (2017) Transnational social policy: social welfare in a world on the move. London: Routledge
Greener, I. (2018) Social policy after the financial crisis: a progressive response. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Hudson, J., Needham, C. and Heins, E. (Eds.) (2017) Social policy review. 29, Analysis and debate in social policy, London: Routledge
Needham, C., Heins, and Rees, J. (Eds.) (2018) Social policy review 30: analysis and debate in social policy.
Reisch, M. (Ed.) (2017) Social policy and social justice. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications

Subject specific skills

Understand the history and development of welfare provision in Britain from the 19th century to the present day.
Identify the main ideological perspectives which have influenced these developments and analyse state welfare using critical perspectives.
Apply the historical and analytical understanding gained to the detailed investigation of a range of contemporary social welfare issues.

Transferable skills

Analytical thinking, self-management, study skills, interpersonal skills and written and oral communication skills. Evaluate theoretical arguments and evidence.