Making social policy work

Description

Social policy is now central to political debate in Britain. What has been achieved by efforts to improve services and reduce poverty? What is needed to deliver more effective and popular services to all and increase social justice? How can we make social policy work? These are some of the questions discussed in this new and wide-ranging collection of essays by a distinguished panel of leading social policy academics. The book covers key issues in contemporary social policy, particularly concentrating on recent changes. It examines the history and goals of social policy as well as its delivery, focusing in turn on the family and the state, schools, higher education, healthcare, social care, communities and housing. Redistribution is also examined, exploring child poverty, pension reform and resources for welfare. The essays in this collection have been specially written to honour the 70th birthday of Howard Glennerster whose pioneering work has been concerned not only with the theoretical, historical and political foundations of social policies but, crucially, with how they work in practice. It is a collection of primary importance for those working in and interested in policy and politics in a wide variety of fields and for students of social policy, public policy and the public sector.

John Hills is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the ESRC CASE at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He was a member of the Pensions Commission from 2003 to 2006.Julian Le Grand is the Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 2003 to 2005, he was Senior Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street.David Piachaud is Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science and an associate of CASE. He was Social Policy Adviser in the Prime Minister's Policy Unit (1974-79) and has been consultant to the European Commission, International Labour Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Health Organization.

"This collection of essays by Howard Glennerster's colleagues, past and present, provides a survey of most of the key issues about contemporary British social policy with a particular stress upon policy evaluation. It shares Howard's concerns to provide a pragmatic and sympathetic critique of modern Labour social policy." Michael Hill, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Newcastle University"A treasure trove of insights into what makes social policy work from a constellation of stella academic stars. From first principles through to final delivery the book looks across the spectrum. Key specialists from the different fields - family, schools, higher education, health, social care, welfare, neighbourhood renewal, pensions, redistribution - examine what has worked and what might work better. A true political anorak's bible." Malcolm Dean, The Guardian