Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2010): Welfare state - UK

Big Society's leap of faith

J. Dunning

Community Care, Sept. 16th 2010, p. 22-23

This article considers how the role of faith groups in social care might be expanded as part of the Big Society. It is pointed out that religious groups will be unable to expand their role without extra funding. Their workers have training but are not health or social work professionals and they cannot replace the NHS or social services departments. It is emphasised that religious groups offering social care must not evangelise.

Family minded policy and whole family practice

H. Clarke and N. Hughes

Social Policy and Society, vol. 9, 2010, p. 527-597

During the first decade of the 21st century, UK policy and practice has become increasingly overt in its concern with the need to support families at particular risk. This themed section draws on a varied body of research and analysis that has both informed and critiqued this recent trend in policy and practice. The papers indicate the potential value of developing an explicit research framework able to support engagement with issues such as:

1. representation of the family in policy
2. modelling practice approaches
3. understanding family in policy and practice
4. maintenance of a focus on individuals within their family context
5. identification of the dynamics of inequality and the operation of power.

Think Big Society

N. Wilkie and others

Children and Young People Now, Sept. 14th-20th 2010, p. 16-18

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to reduce state-run public services and hand over responsibility to local citizens. In this article, experts explore what this will mean for youth work, early years education and childcare, children's social services and youth justice.