SOCIAL POLICY

Social Policy in Health and Social Care

Social Policy in Health and Social Care

Introduction

The following paper is an approach to discussing the social policy and its significance.

Discussion

LO1 Understand the significant historical and contemporary landmarks in social welfare provision

1.1 Outline significant historical and contemporary landmarks in social policy

1.2 explain how the changes in ideological approach since 1945 have impacted on contemporary social policies

Significant landmarks in social policy

A social policy is the policy made to deal with social issues. It includes the guidelines and principles that define working for human welfare. Whereas an organizational policy deals with methods and principles adopted by organizations for their own benefit. The difference between the two is, the former is focused on public good and later is for a specific organization's good.

In the nineteenth century people started asking questions regarding the common social problems such as increasing poverty, child labor, poor living conditions of masses. The outcome of this was the formation of Charity Organization Society. The motivated ones joined to eliminate the problems in charitable work and coordinated to work for the underprivileged ones. This organization became very popular in the early twentieth century and late Victorian time. Between 1905 and 1909, Octavian Hill worked with the government's commission on reform of Poor law. The Poor Law was however made much before that and already had a reformation in 1832 by a royal commission appointed by the government (www.devon.gov.uk).

By the Royal commission, the operation of Poor Laws 1832 was implemented which made United Kingdom a welfare state. A welfare state is the one which intends to improve the quality of life, education, employment and health of the residents of a country. Social security is provided to the citizens (www.polity.co.uk). During the 1906 elections the Liberal Party and Labor Party became a threat to each other. In this time the foundations of the current welfare state were laid by the Liberal Welfare Reforms. Over the coming forty years, extensions were made. The old classical model of the social policy was replaced by the new model in the early decades of twentieth century. The term 'social liberalism' came into being which differentiated the liberalism known in nineteenth century (www.polity.co.uk). This included income maintenance, health, education and housing.

Changes in ideological approach

The ideological changes since the post world war two eras changed the ideological approach and impacted the current social policies. The world war had adverse effects on the people and changed the way people thought. People became more sensitive to mankind, after massive brutal killings in the war. For this reason policies were made in accordance with the goal of catering positively to the mankind. This was seen throughout the United Kingdom. The post war consensus was held. According to this concept there was a consensus on social policy which collected support for a welfare state (www.devon.gov.uk). People were now looking forward to a state which focuses on the development and upbringing of all the citizens equally and to provide support to the ...