Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Changes and challenges in UK social services: social services of general interest or 'welfare' services of general economic interest?

Davies, J. (2012) Changes and challenges in UK social services: social services of general interest or 'welfare' services of general economic interest? In: Neergaard, U. B., Szyszczak, E., van de Gronden, J. and Krajewski, M. (eds.) Social Services of General Interest in the EU. The Hague: TMC Asser Press. pp. 513-540.

Item Type: Book Section
Abstract: This chapter provides a synopsis of social service provision in the United Kingdom. It discusses the individualisation of service provision and the rhetoric of consumer choice that is a developing characteristic of many of the main sectors of the welfare model. At the sectoral level, attention is drawn to the different models for social service provision that are, in general, shaped by neoliberal economic theory. The development of this UK welfare model is framed against its Poor Law antecedents dating from the sixteenth century and the welfare reforms of the mid-twentieth century. Where virtually continuous reform of service provision and procurement is a characteristic of social welfare organisation,devolution has added to its complexity: with degrees of national autonomy, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now bring a quasi-federal diversity to the welfare model. An overview of universal health service provision, local authority obligations and social housing provides a range of examples from the UK social services. Private law, and private remedy, now exists in what were once public spaces: public law obligations remain, but for social services, as SSGIs or social welfare SGEIs, both public law and private law find challenges in human rights norms. Ongoing modernisation and private sector involvement in social services provision has been accompanied by the appearance of structural and organisational characteristics that, for a growing number of UK social service sectors, would be likely to see them categorised as SGEIs at the EU level.
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV40 Social service. Social work. Charity organization and practice
Creators: Davies, Jim
Editors: Neergaard, Ulla B, Szyszczak, Erika, van de Gronden, Johan and Krajewski, Markus
Publisher: TMC Asser Press
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016)
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Business & Law > Law
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Sustainable Business Practices
Research Centres > Centre for Sustainable Business Practices

Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law > Law
Date: 2012
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 513-540
Title of Book: Social Services of General Interest in the EU
Series Name: Legal issues of services of general interest
Volume: 1
Number: 1
Place of Publication: The Hague
Number of Pages: 622
Language: English
ISBN: 9789067048750
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4599

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