Search results for ‘Subject term:"social policy"’ Sort:
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Exploring the relationship between the voluntary sector and the state in criminal justice
- Authors:
- MILLS Alice, MEEK Rosie, GOJKOVIC Dina
- Journal article citation:
- Voluntary Sector Review, 2(2), July 2011, pp.193-211.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Voluntary sector organisations (VSOs) have long worked with offenders, and provide services such as advice and advocacy, mentoring and peer support systems. Recent policy developments aiming to increase their participation in the criminal justice system, have led to speculation about the impact on the sector's independence and ethos. This paper, using qualitative interviews with 12 stakeholders in the voluntary sector and criminal justice fields, explores the current position of the voluntary sector and identifies the most important issues facing the sector. It examines the effects of developments on the relationship between the sector and the state, including the implications of opening the criminal justice market to VSOs, and the potential loss of the sector's distinctiveness and critical voice. Findings suggest a gap between policy rhetoric and the reality of commissioning opportunities in criminal justice, and highlight the perceived unfairness of the commissioning process for VSOs compared to the privileged position of the public sector.
State, markets and society - Big Society joins the fray
- Author:
- PAINTER Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Public Money and Management, 31(1), January 2011, pp.71-74.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Big Society policy was launched by the coalition government in July 2010. Using criminal justice as an illustrative example, this article looks at the development of public service governance structures from the 1980s to date. It covers changing government policy, including public service markets, partnership approaches, community forms of governance, and the civil society and self governance proposals of the coalition government. The author discusses the implications of the emergence of the Big Society policy, including opportunities and risks.
Bringing the spirit and values back into public services
- Authors:
- GILBERT Peter, FULFORD K. W. M.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, 6(2), June 2010, pp.6-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article describes how recently, western societies have been shaken by the economic crisis brought on by the recklessness of the financial institutions. Financial institutions, like Lehman Brothers, are now shown to have used dubious accounting methods to cover losses; and accountants, regulators and governments have come under scrutiny. In public life, the scandal of MPs' expenses at Westminster and the blockages in legislative assemblies in the US are compounded in England by reports of deficient and degrading care in acute hospitals, where organisational considerations appear to have taken over from the prime mission of patient care. The authors argue that, at this time, a new form of leadership is required – one that taps into the spirit and motivating force within individuals and groups, and uses values to create a better public service for all.
Human rights inquiry: report of the Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Author:
- EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 198p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
The Human Rights Inquiry was undertaken by the Equality and Human Rights Commission under its statutory powers. Its terms of reference were to assess progress towards the effectiveness and enjoyment of a culture of respect for human rights in Great Britain and to consider how the current human rights framework might best be developed and used, to realise the vision of a society built on fairness and respect, confident in all aspects of its diversity. Evidence was gathered using commissioned research projects, a call for evidence from key organisations, service providers and individuals, a national survey on public perceptions of human rights, a series of focus groups with members of the public, and oral evidence from organisations, service providers and individuals to the Inquiry Panel. The report looks at human rights and the Human Rights Act, public perceptions of human rights, the impact of human rights on public services, barriers to assertion, provision and enjoyment of human rights, and making human rights effective. It sets out key findings and recommendations on the effectiveness of the Human Rights Act, leadership, improved service delivery, litigation, media, duties on public authorities and those who inspect them, and information and advice.
Human rights inquiry: report of the Equality and Human Rights Commission: executive summary
- Author:
- EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
This report summarises the findings of a Human Rights Inquiry undertaken by the Equality and Human Rights Commission under its statutory powers. Its terms of reference were to assess progress towards the effectiveness and enjoyment of a culture of respect for human rights in Britain and to consider how the current human rights framework might best be developed and used to realise the vision of a society built on fairness and respect, confident in all aspects of its diversity. Evidence received and examined by the Inquiry Panel showed the positive impact of the Human Rights Act on individuals’ lives in various sectors, including health and social care, and identified barriers that exist. The Inquiry concluded that the overwhelming majority of people want and value human rights, and that effective implementation depends on political and organisational leadership, increased knowledge and understanding of what human rights are and are not, and the mainstreaming of human rights principles in strategic and business planning, where appropriate. The Inquiry report contains a series of recommendations for the government, for the Commission, and for public authorities.
Post-New Public Management in public sector hospitals?: the UK, Germany and Italy
- Author:
- DENT Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Policy and Politics, 33(4), October 2005, pp.623-636.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
This article compares the impact of New Public Management (NPM) on the health systems and especially hospitals of the UK, Germany and Italy. It asks how far recent policy and organisational changes reflect variations on the NPM theme and a transition towards new patterns of governance. Are all three countries on a similar trajectory or not? What do these comparisons of the three systems tell us about governance? The article draws on the work of Hood and colleagues to construct a tripartite typology of governance ('enforced self-regulation', 'juridified self-regulation' and 'managerial regulation') to distinguish between regimes within a 'new instititutionalist' framework.
Beyond the New Public Management?: public services and the social investment state
- Authors:
- NEWMAN Janet, McKEE Bob
- Journal article citation:
- Policy and Politics, 33(4), October 2005, pp.657-673.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Recent years have seen the proliferation of political discourses around the Third Way, progressive governance, social investment and social inclusion. This article explores the implications for public management, drawing on documentary and interview data on the changing fortunes of the public library service, a service seemingly well positioned to take full advantage of these new policy discourses. The article concludes by tracing some of the key contradictions inherent in the idea of the social investment state, and the challenges these produce for public managers.
Welfare politics and social work
- Author:
- SIBEON Roger
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 3(3), 1991, pp.184-203.
- Publisher:
- Whiting and Birch
Anti-reductionist sociology, which is on the ascendancy in academic social science, is illustrated with reference to ostensibly 'liberatory' welfare discourses that developed in the public sector in Britain in the 1980s. Begins with a brief theoretical outline of anti-reductionist sociology, and follows with an analysis of problems that inevitably arise when reductionist theoretical ideas are the foundation for policies and practice.
Government’s social responsibility, citizen satisfaction and trust
- Authors:
- MIZRAHI Shlomo, COHEN Nissim, VIGODA-GADOT Eran
- Journal article citation:
- Policy and Politics, 48(3), 2020, pp.443-460.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
This article investigates the complex relationships between citizens’ perceptions about the government’s social responsibility, their satisfaction with public services and their trust in government institutions. It uses data from a national survey of citizens in Israel and focuses on satisfaction with health care. The authors build on previous bureaucratic and administrative theory, and suggest two competing models of these relationships: (1) perceptions about the government’s social responsibility are a source of citizens’ satisfaction and trust; and (2) perceptions about the government’s social responsibility are an outcome of citizens’ satisfaction and trust. The findings demonstrate the important role of public perceptions about the government’s social responsibility, as well as the perceived performance of public health-care services, in building trust among citizens. The article also highlights the methodological challenges of determining cause and effect in research on trust. (Edited publisher abstract)
Innovation in social welfare and human services
- Authors:
- RONNING Rolf, KNUTAGARD Marcus
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 124
- Place of publication:
- Abingdon
- Edition:
- 1st ed.
This book explores what innovation involves in the context of contemporary human services. It distinguishes between innovation and improvement and discusses the relevant differences between private sector, public sector and non-profit organisations. It also looks at how innovation is often as much a result of the power relations between the involved actors, and the structural context, as a result of popularly identified 'drivers' and 'barriers'. Including numerous case studies, the book illustrates innovations at macro level (innovations in social policy), the meso level (innovation at organisational level) and the micro-level (user-driven innovations). The authors emphasise the importance of innovation being developed and supported by those working within those organisations. New and creative solutions to problems encountered in everyday work by front-line workers can be taken up to improve services provided and make a difference for the users, rather than change being externally imposed upon them by those without insider knowledge. (Edited publisher abstract)