Citizenship, Community and Welfare: Personal Social Services, Welfare Provisions and Citizenship in the UK

This article discusses personal social services, welfare provisions and citizenship in the UK. It covers topics such as the welfare state, citizenship, and ways to apply for British citizenship. The article also explains the different types of welfare provisions and how they have evolved over time.

CITIZENSHIP,
COMMUNITY & WELFARE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Personal Social Services –...........................................................................................................3
Welfare Provisions –....................................................................................................................3
Citizenship –................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Citizenship as the name suggests allows a person to the citizen of a country i.e., to live and
work in the country. British citizenship in the same way gives the right to a person to live and
work in the UK and that too permanently with added benefits of no restrictions based on
immigration criteria. It shall be noted that having the British passport is not a sign of British
citizenship. Government devices various programs for welfare of the individuals and families to
support them financially. Assistance in various form like food, housing, financing and medical
care are provided to the people. Such a system of assistance in Britain is called Welfare State.
Under such a welfare state people are ensured social and economic security through pensions,
unemployment insurances and other social security measures.
MAIN BODY
Personal Social Services –
Personal Social Services as a phrase includes various social services that a particular
group, government or a person provides to the section of the society who needs such services for
their social and economic upliftment like mentally and physically disabled, aged and older
people, neglected children and older people, etc. (Hallett, 2018). Such services include public
education, infrastructure, social work, welfare, food banks, health care, public transportation,
housing for public, etc.
Welfare Provisions –
In UK, there are various groups and individuals like government, community workers,
social workers, etc. who provide welfare services to the people in need of financial or social
assistance due to the lack of resources. Such assistance can be in form of financial aid, education,
physical disabilities, addictions, etc. (Martinelli, 2020). Personal social services address a
number of risks or vulnerabilities other than education, health, physical disabilities or addiction
like welfare of a family member. Safe guard of children is also one of their duties along with safe
guard of adults who are the risk being harmed from other family members or others other than
family members. It is to be noted that level of support varies with each individual local authority
in the play and also their judgements regarding a certain circumstances and situations in which
they have to act.
Any person can apply for such social assistance if needed be it a parent or any other adult
in the family or any elder child, etc. who may request services of family support at the times of

stress in the family. On reaching out for the help, depending upon the issue either the
neighbourhood based social worker will be offering a further assessment, immediate assistance if
needed or in case of more serious issue a team will be assigned of an appropriate community or
member of a multi-agency assessment team (commonly referred to as MASH team) will be
assigned (Jupp, 2020). Also, various social services to disabled parents and relatives are provided
to take care of their disabled children in the form of ‘short break’ services.
Also, in case of domestic violence between adults and which is harming the children, child
protection services are also offered. Or social service regarding temporary foster home in an
emergency to the children in case of children’s challenging behaviour or to provide short term
planned breaks at the time of specific stress. Police or court may also intervene in such cases.
Now to reach out to such social services there are various ways like calling the local social
service in your area assigned to your area, other individuals or groups working closely with the
family may also refer to the social services like schools, health visitors, GPs, etc. (Wollmann,
2018). In case of a concern that child is being subjected to abuse or neglect, other professionals
known to such an issue, family members suspecting such an issue or any other person may
approach social services, police, court or even National society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children (NSPCC).
The local social services or MASH team will provide the person approaching them for the
social assistance with various mediums and material to know how the whole process works out
and what is the role of the social services as well as the person who approached in the case under
consideration. Such material will include guidelines to guide how the whole process works,
number of leaflets, written fact sheets, information on the website of such social services to
communicate the issues with which such social services can help and the nature of services they
provide (Wickham and et.al., 2020). It is to be noted that such leaflets and factsheets can also be
made available in other language or even in braille language depending upon the person who
approaches the social services.
Other associations involved in such social services from which the social assistance can be
requested at the time of stress are Family Rights Group or in case of a concerned relative,
Grandparents’ Association. Family Rights Group endeavours to keep children safe either within
their own homes and families or strengthen the networks of the children who are not safe at their

own home. Basically its purpose is to provide safety to children either within their family or
within the community of the alike children living together.
In case of need, social services will talk with the families of the children or others who are
in need of help and also provide them with the services of professional along with discussing the
matters with closer relatives to know the reason of such an issue and how the issue can be
resolved and the child or the adult will be protected.
In case the child or children has been abused or neglected at his home or is likely to be
abused or neglected then a detailed investigation is to be carried on which is in legal terms
referred to as ‘Section 47 enquiry’. First and foremost, thing to remember in case of such section
47 enquiry is not to panic and assist the professionals in the process of such investigation. Some
individuals involved in such investigation are the social workers, a specialist officer if it is
alleged that the child is abused or seriously neglected, etc. A child protection case conference
will be arranged in case of suspicion of any abuse or neglect and it is proven in the enquiry. Now
there are certain cases where parent cannot attend such child protection conference which are as
follows:
 In case of suspicion of serious assault or injury of the child it is most likely that the
criminal proceedings will be considered.
 Parent has the history of violence and there is a possibility of resorting to violence at such
conference or meeting and even after such conference or meeting.
 Parent is severely suffering the mental health issues and is considered unfit to attend such
conference or meeting.
 If the parent arrives at such conference or meeting being under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
Although such parent can ask for assistance of legal representative to express their views in
the meeting or conference in writing if he is not able to attend the meeting or conference in
person.
Now, bringing the children to such conferences is a serious matter and they shall only be
invited based on their understanding level, their emotional health and age. Now, it is up to the
decision of social worker to allow children to attend the conferences and whether it is beneficial
for them or if the children have expressed a wish to attend. Finally, the Child Protection Plan is
set for parents, professionals and carers to follow.

Citizenship –
Citizenship simply means being a citizen of a country. British citizenship therefore means
being a British citizen or citizen of UK (How To Apply for British Citizenship, 2022). Thus, it
can be said that citizenship is gained by satisfying the legal requirements of a local, state or a
national government and thereafter, being a citizen obliged to follow the laws and regulations of
the country and even defend against any wrongdoings.
It can be said that being a citizen of a country means having an access to political, civil and
social rights in a country (Roche, 2018). Social citizenship will entail all the rights available to a
standard person living in a country following such standards prevalent in the society i.e., from a
small degree of economic welfare and security to the share in the full access to the social
heritage.
It can be observed that citizenship status did not allow access to social rights (Hancock and
McCreadie, 2018). According to The Poor Law Act, 1601 the disabled persons were the
responsibility of the family and the government was not legally obliged to look after such
disabled people who were not able to work. Thereafter, by the mid-17th century, meagre pensions
were paid to poor including disabled but such disabled persons were restricted to claim wage
labour. Post 1945, social, organizational and political-economic reforms were institutionalized
which included higher employment pays, lowered taxes, disabled, elderly, children and women
being depended on male bread winner of the family thereby differentiating between impaired and
able-bodied citizens.
Currently, welfare state model which includes obtaining of social citizenship, the welfare
benefits and benefits linked to health and social care can be consumed by the citizens in the
welfare market of the welfare state (Harpaz and Mateos, 2019). It is expected of the citizen to be
a competent member of the society and thus obtaining full citizenship.
Some of the legislations which protects the interest of the citizens in case of any illegal and
unfair practices by the other citizens can be The Children Act, 1989 (CA 1989), Family Law Act,
1986 (FLA 1986), Child Support Act, 1991 (CSA 1991), Family Law Act, 1996 (FLA 1996 –
Part IV concerning family homes and domestic violence), Human Rights Act, 1998 (containing
European Convention in English Law on Human Rights), Adoption and Children Act, 2002

(ACA 2002), Children and Families Act, 2014 (CFA 2014), Regulation (EC) 2201/2003, HCCH
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 1980 (Hague Child
Abduction Convention), Hague Child Protection Convention, 1996 concerning responsibilities of
parents for the protection of children, Hague Maintenance Convention, 2007 for child support
and other family maintenance forms, section 31A of the MFPA 1984, section 31D of the MFPA
1984, FLA 1986, Schedule 1 of the CA 1989, etc.
There are multiple ways to apply for the British Citizenship namely:
 If a person is born in UK, he is eligible to apply for citizenship in UK.
 If a person is married to a British citizen or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.
(mandatorily to have been living in the UK for last 3 years and either have indefinite
leave to remain or status of settled under the EU Settlement Scheme)
 If a person has a British parent.
 If a person has another type of British nationality
 If a person is stateless
 If a person previously renounced his citizenship.
Now, it has been observed in various cases that many people tend to forego their ethnicity
when they get qualified for the citizenship of other country but such renouncement and
naturalisation has its own disadvantages and negative experiences which may vary from person
to person based on his personal situation and circumstances (Ellermann, 2020). According to
2021 census, the main ethnic groups are Asian or Asian British, Black, Black British, Caribbean
or African, Mixed or multiple ethnic groups and White.
From the above explanation of personal social services, welfare provisions and citizenship it
can be analysed that welfare provisions in any domain of a country like social security, housing,
education, health care or personal social services needs to be evolved time to time as per the
requirements and demands of the current scenario because the scenarios will keep on changing in
any country by the effects of its demographics, variety and mix of its population, social issues it
is facing in the current societal regime, political and legal obligations it has, global cross country
relations and their developments, etc.
Britain’s modern Welfare State is said to have been started in 1948. It can be inferred that
setting up of welfare state was not forced but rather whole heartedly welcomed the nation facing
the after effects of the World War II (Yemini, Tibbitts and Goren, 2019). Since then it has been

evolving continuously over time to meet the expectations of the citizens of the UK and demands
and requirements of the prevailing situations.
Also for an individual born after 1st July 2006, he is automatically a British citizen provided,
one of his parents was settled in the UK or a British citizen.
It is to be noted that welfare provisions are inclusive of five groups of services namely – cash
benefits, education, health care, housing and personal social services (Sasikumar and Balaji,
2020). Cash benefits being a major service accounts for almost 10% of the gross domestic
product of the UK which can be again divided into further three categories namely – national
insurance, non-contributory benefits and means tested (Becoming a British citizen, 2022). The
second most prevalent service is health care naturally. National Health Services is the entity
responsible for the organization of health care services in the UK and taxes financing it. Health
care services by NHS covers literally whole of the UK and the entire population with a special
priority to the ones in dire need of such medical help.
Talking of education, it is a typical trend in the UK that all the children up to the age of 16
has access to school but after school i.e., after the age of 16, the students of lower class getting
admitted to high schools and further studies decreases considerably and are more keen towards
working and earning thereby forming part of the work force (Pashby and et.al., 2020). Thus, it
can be seen that system of higher education is class biased and thus requires appropriate
framework by the central government, local government and other professionals.
CONCLUSION
Citizenship as discussed earlier can be finally said to be a status of an individual as a citizen
of a country of which he has applied and thus, allows the person to work and live in the country
without any restrictions in the nature of immigration. Also, being a citizen of a country he will be
eligible for the welfare schemes and provisions of such country if he is in need of it. Such
welfare schemes and provisions are with respect to various domains of the country like social
security and income maintenance, education including all the levels of education, housing of the
people in need of the shelter and not being able to afford such infrastructure, healthcare being aa
important domain regarding health issues of the people of the country and their inability to meet
the expenses of such health care facilities and personal social services which includes social
services for the betterment of the society at large and at an individual level including social
services regarding domestic abuse and neglect, family issues, etc.

There are various legal support methods and procedures available to the citizens of the
UK to address the issues mentioned in the above report with the involvement of local authority
or state authority or even central authority thus, citizenship of a person works in relation to the
welfare provisions devised by the appropriate authority.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ellermann, A., 2020. Discrimination in migration and citizenship. Journal of Ethnic and
Migration Studies. 46(12). pp.2463-2479.
Hallett, C., 2018. W omen and the personal social services. In Women And Social Policy (pp.
133-147). Routledge.
Hancock, R. and McCreadie, C., 2018. Flexible Labour Markets, Citizenship and Pension
Provision: a View from the UK. In Employment and Citizenship in Britain and
France (pp. 117-134). Routledge.
Harpaz, Y. and Mateos, P., 2019. Strategic citizenship: Negotiating membership in the age of
dual nationality. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 45(6). pp.843-857.
Jupp, E., 2020. Care, austerity and citizenship: story-telling as protest in anti-austerity activism
in the UK. In Austerity Across Europe (pp. 181-194). Routledge.
Martinelli, L., 2020. A basic income trilemma: Affordability, adequacy, and the advantages of
radically simplified welfare. Journal of Social Policy. 49(3). pp.461-482.
Pashby, K. and et.al., 2020. A meta-review of typologies of global citizenship
education. Comparative Education. 56(2). pp.144-164.
Roche, M., 2018. Citizenship and exclusion: reconstructing the European Union. In European
citizenship and social exclusion (pp. 3-22). Routledge.
Sasikumar, S. and Balaji, P., 2020. Perception of Students towards Cost-Free Welfare Schemes
in School Education–A Study with Special Reference to Government Schools of Tamil
Nadu. International Journal of Management (IJM). 11(3). pp.511-518.
Wickham, S. and et.al., 2020. Effects on mental health of a UK welfare reform, universal credit:
a longitudinal controlled study. The Lancet Public Health. 5(3). pp.e157-e164.
Wollmann, H., 2018. Public and personal social services in European countries from
public/municipal to private—and back to municipal and “third sector”
provision. International Public Management Journal. 21(3). pp.413-431.
Yemini, M., Tibbitts, F. and Goren, H., 2019. Trends and caveats: Review of literature on global
citizenship education in teacher training. Teaching and Teacher Education. 77(1). pp.77-
89.
Online
How To Apply for British Citizenship. 2022. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.immigrationdirect.co.uk/how-to-apply-british-citizen.html#:~:text=Lived
%20in%20the%20UK%20for,for%20at%20least%201%20year)>
Becoming a British citizen. 2022. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/immigration/becoming-a-british-citizen/>
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