A new book provided a comprehensive introduction to contemporary British social policy. It focused on developments since 1997, including coverage of major service areas, ideological and other current debates in the subject.
Source: Hugh Bochel, Catherine Bochel, Robert Page and Robert Sykes, Social Policy: Issues and developments, Pearson Education (0870 607 3777)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Dec
An article examined the use of documentary analysis in the comparative analysis of healthcare policy implementation in England. It highlighted the importance of the implied assumptions or underlying ideologies contained in policy documents.
Source: Stephen Abbott, Sara Shaw and Julian Elston, 'Comparative analysis of health policy implementation', Policy Studies, Volume 25 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Dec
The government published a Bill (following consultation) designed to provide for a comprehensive statutory framework for inquiries set by Ministers to look into matters of public concern.
Source: Inquiries Bill [HL], Department for Constitutional Affairs, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | Consultation document | DCA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
An article questioned the extent to which a distinctively Scottish social welfare policy had emerged since devolution. The scope for policy departure was limited in a number of different ways, and there was a need to acknowledge the similarities between New Labour policy in London and in Edinburgh.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Lynne Poole, 'A land of milk and honey?: Social policy in Scotland after devolution', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Nov
A think-tank report welcomed attempts by government to strengthen the evidence base for social policy, improve evaluation methods and disseminate findings. But it said that there was a gap between the rhetoric of evidence-based policy and what happened in communities where policies were implemented. Complex local interventions did not lend themselves easily to methods of evaluation that tried to trace cause and effect; research findings about what works were often used selectively, to serve political ends; and practitioners working at local level often found the formal evidence base irrelevant to their needs - many felt that their own experience and expertise were not taken into account.
Source: Anna Coote, Jessica Allen and David Woodhead, Finding Out What Works: Building knowledge about complex, community-based initiatives, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Summary (pdf) | KF press release | Guardian report | Community Care report
Date: 2004-Nov
An article examined the opportunities and challenges systematic review methods presented to social policy. It addressed concerns about examining the strength of given evidence, and perceptions of it being a purely technical method to review existing research. It argued that there was merit in utilizing the methods to provide research users with transparent summaries of the most robust evidence with minimum bias. It suggested that social policy researchers had a valuable contribution to make to developing the methods.
Source: Alison Wallace, Karen Croucher, Deborah Quilgars and Sally Baldwin, 'Meeting the challenge: developing systematic reviewing in social policy', Policy & Politics, Volume 32 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Oct
A new book provided a sociological exploration of contemporary social policy. It considered some of the ways in which sociological theories, frameworks, concepts and ideas could be used to make sense of and in some instances re-think social policy.
Source: Amanda Coffey, Reconceptualizing Social Policy: Sociological perspectives on contemporary social policy, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Sample chapter (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
An annual review offered detailed analyses of progress and change in major social policy areas during the previous year. A themed section examined the changes that had taken place in social security policy since the first Thatcher government came to power in 1979.
Source: Nick Ellison, Linda Bauld and Martin Powell (eds.), Social Policy Review 16, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jul
A think-tank report said that networks were the most important contemporary organisational form, reshaping the activities of families, governments and businesses. But although social, political and technological networks held the modern world together, there was no language to allow them to be applied to solving common problems.
Source: Helen McCarthy, Paul Miller and Paul Skidmore (eds.), Network Logic: Who governs in an interconnected world?, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Apr
A report highlighted how government departments could identify key policy areas which would benefit from faith communities experience, and said that faith communities should be able to work more closely with the government to build strong active communities and foster community development and civil renewal.
Source: Working Together: Co-operation between Government and Faith Communities, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A discussion paper from the government's Strategy Unit brought together some of the available knowledge about the relationship between public policy and human behaviour, in order to stimulate thinking about how policies could be designed in the future. It concluded that the efficacy of government policy could be significantly enhanced, and public behaviour positively influenced, by more sophisticated approaches to support individuals and communities in changing behaviours. To be effective and acceptable, such approaches needed to be built around co-production and a sense of partnership between state, individuals and communities.
Source: David Halpern and Clive Bates with Greg Beales and Adam Heathfield, Personal Responsibility and Changing Behaviour: The state of knowledge and its implications for public policy, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Feb
The government published a revised code of practice on official consultations, which would come into effect from April 2004. The code and the criteria within it would apply to all public consultations by government departments and agencies. Non-departmental public bodies and local authorities would also be encouraged to follow it. The new code contained a stronger commitment to providing feedback to those consulted.
Source: Code of Practice on Consultation, Regulatory Impact Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 2194)
Links: Code (pdf) | Cabinet Office press release
Date: 2004-Jan
A new book investigated corporate influence on social policies at global/regional, national and local levels. It argued that the recent history and present direction of the welfare state could not be understood without a focus on the role that business had played in its development.
Source: Kevin Farnsworth, Corporate Power and Social Policy in a Global Economy: Under the influence, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jan