Risk, Social Policy and Welfare

Erscheinungsjahr 2001
ISBN: 978-0-335-23199-7
Verlag: Open University Press

Buch, Englisch

* What is the relevance of the concept of risk to social policy?
* Has risk replaced need as the key organizing principle of welfare provision?
* Do current trends support the contention that policy development is risk-based?

Traditionally, need has been the major mechanism for allocating resources in public services, and social policy texts have addressed various state responses to social problems and the alleviation of need. However, in a period of state retrenchment and welfare restriction, rationing and targeting have become more intense. This book explores the extent to which, as a result, risk and vulnerability have replaced need as the key principles of welfare rationing and provision. It begins with an introductory overview of current theories on risk and goes on to examine the relevance of risk to social policy and welfare developments. This is achieved by drawing on recent social policy and case examples from health, the personal social services and mental health. Written with the needs of undergraduates in mind, the author presents clear examples, provides summaries of key points and makes suggestions for further reading throughout. The result is a highly accessible introduction to the concept of risk for students, researchers and professionals in social policy, health and social welfare.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kemshall, Hazel

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik Soziale Dienste, Soziale Organisationen
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Fragen & Probleme
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Gesundheitssystem, Gesundheitswesen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Series editor's foreword
Introduction
risk, responsibility and social policy
Risk in contemporary society
Key organizing principles of social welfare
from need to risk
Health care
the rise of risk, health promotion and rationing
Child protection and the care of the elderly
need, vulnerability and risk
Mental health, mental disorder, risk and public protection
The new risk-based welfare
Glossary
Bibliography
Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Hazel Kemshall is Professor of Community and Criminal Justice at De Montfort University. She has research interests in risk assessment, risk management and risk policies, and the role of risk in contemporary welfare and criminal justice provision. She has carried out research into risk assessment for the Economic and Social Research Council's 'Risk and Human Behaviour' programme and has published numerous books and articles on risk in social care and criminal justice.