UNIT 7 Social Policy
UNIT 7 Social Policy
UNIT 7 Social Policy
Social Policy
Unit code:
M/601/1590
QCF level:
Credit
value:
15
Aim
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to investigate the origins of social policies and their impact
on health and social care services.
Unit abstract
This unit covers the many factors that influence social policy, including historical, conceptual, political,
regional, national and other agents of social change. Learners will explore their effect on social policy.
It will be possible to encompass a variety of health and social care sectors in the delivery of this unit.
Analysis of social policy will enable learners to evaluate sufficiency and deficiency in provision.
Tracing developments from 1945 to the present, learners will compare and contrast major competing
perspectives and examine key contemporary issues for policy makers, welfare recipients, providers
and stakeholders.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand the significant historical and contemporary landmarks in social welfare provision
2 Understand the origins of social policies
3 Understand the impact of social policies on users of health and social care services
4 Be able to carry out an investigation into recent developments in health and social care policy.
Unit content
1 Understand the significant historical and contemporary landmarks in social welfare provision
Social policy: definition of; distinguishing social policy from organisational policy
World War II and its effects on provision and attitudes to welfare: Beveridge and Bevan and the
inception of the welfare state; the range of social policy eg income maintenance, employment and
benefits, health, housing, social services, education
Post-war: consensus and differences eg the influence of Butler, Gaitskell; ending of consensus; The
New Right and Thatcherism; New Labour and social inclusion; devolution; personalised services
3 Understand the impact of social policies on users of health and social care services
How impact can be measured: methods eg service user feedback, research, statistics, organisational
policy responses, practice experience; difficulties in measuring impact
Broader strategies: behind individual and organisational roles; how policy is implemented; how and
why problems are defined in certain ways
The impact of policy on specific groups: positive and negative impacts on eg older people, children,
people with disabilities, youth offenders; successful policy implementation (barriers to, characteristics
of)
4 Be able to carry out an investigation into recent developments in health and social care policy
National models and the living laboratory: England; Northern Ireland; Scotland; Wales
Current initiatives: as relevant to learner and home country eg gender, ethnic issues, poverty and
social security, health and health services, community care, disability, crime and criminal justice
On successful completion of
this unit a learner will:
Guidance
Links
This unit has links with, for example:
Essential requirements
There are no essential requirements for this unit.