Social Policy: An Introduction

List of activities
List of tables
List of figures
List of boxes
The authors
Preface

The subject of social policy
Ideas and concepts in social policy
The development of social policy in Britain
The global social policy environment
The contested boundaries of social policy: the case of criminal justice
Who gets what? Slicing the welfare cake
Social policy, politics and social control
Who makes policy? The example of education
Work and welfare
Are professionals good for you? The example of health policy and health professionals
Utopia and ideals: housing policy and the environment
Community and social care
Devolution and social policy
Conclusion: the future of social policy

Glossary
Bibliography

What are social policies?
How are social policies created and implemented?
Why do certain policies exist?

The fourth edition of this highly respected textbook provides a clear and engaging introduction to social policy.

The book has been thoroughly updated to include:

• Changes in social policy introduced by the Coalition government
• Incorporation of an international perspective throughout, as well as anew chapter: The global social policy environment
• Updated pedagogy to stimulate thought and learning
• Comprehensive glossary

Social Policy is essential reading for students beginning or building on their study of social policy or welfare. The wide-ranging coverage of topics means that the book holds broad appeal for a number of subject areas including health, social policy, criminology, education, social work and sociology.

"This textbook has always been a useful teaching resource because it combines substantial and engaging analysis with 'stand alone' extracts. The new edition adds a chapter on global social policy, updates on the Coalition Government and guides to what is in the book. The added activities are well thought out and can be adapted or expanded to suit the needs of particular students."
Hedley Bashforth, Teaching Fellow in Social Policy, University of Bath, UK

"Social Policy: An Introduction, now in its fourth edition and eleventh year, will remain a core social policy text on reading lists across the country due to its well written and comprehensive nature. Completely revised, it has been updated and extended to reflect contemporary developments in social policy and contains updated pedagogical features, including activities for the reader, learning outcomes at the start of each chapter and detailed case studies throughout."

Dr Liam Foster, University of Sheffield, UK

"This book provides, as it states, an introduction to the field and does so by adopting a highly attractive pedagogic style that evidences, at every turn, a sensitivity to the approaches to learning of contemporary students. What Blakemore and Warwick-Booth have produced is a clearly laid out and well-structured analysis of impressive breadth that is a readily accessible learning instrument both for student and teacher. Importantly, it provides numerous opportunities to experiment with new ways of approaching the teaching of the subject."

Steen Mangen, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK