Historical Development of Social Care and Social Work in the UK

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of social care and social work in the United Kingdom, tracing its historical development from the industrial revolution to the modern era. It explores the evolution of social work as a profession, highlighting key legislations such as the National Health Services and Community Care Act 1990, the Children Act 2004, and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. The essay examines the roles of social workers in providing essential services to vulnerable populations, including children, adults, and the elderly, and discusses the contributions of various organizations, both governmental and non-profit, in addressing social issues such as poverty, inequality, and health. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of social policies, including the establishment of the welfare state, and the ongoing challenges faced by social workers in a rapidly changing society. The essay concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of social care services in protecting and improving the lives of individuals and communities in the UK.

ESSAY

Social care services are constituent parts of UK and these are regulated, funded which
provide broadly common policy umbrella to all. Social work is considered as profession which
are centred around the people from children through to older people. Working as a social worker
are supporting people and improve their life also (Daly, 2011). The term social welfare refers
well-being of groups of people and individual for delivering better quality of social services,
whereas social work is more specifically which is related with professional practices for
delivering better facilities.
There are two types of research method i.e. primary and secondary. For this present easy
secondary data is used to collect various information where information is collected through
books, journals and help to social worker to know point of views of people regarding them.
In mid-1970s it marked as watershed in both history of British Welfare state. Social care
in UK is provision which shows social work, personal care, protection to children and elder
people at risk. The main legal definition flows from National Health Services and Community
Care Act 1990 in order to covering responsibilities. While these provisions are having following
aims such as to protect individuals from abuse, to prevent deterioration or to promote social
inclusion. In 1950s it represents period where individual casework is highly prized with in social
work. But there is one key problem which has formulate actual practices of people who are
employed as social workers particularly include those individuals who are working within
statutory settings (Devries and et. al., 2013). The development of social work believes in this that
strength of clients and their capabilities are needed to be augmented in fulfilling their lives. In
ancient times, there were not so much people who are working as social. But, there is an
improvement in prevention of children health as well as many facilities were provided by them.
In 20th century, responsibility of social protection was gradually transferred which are far from
the workhouses. So local council had introduced many rules and regulations to ran many public
services and provide better medical services to poor.
During 18th and 19th centuries Britain experienced all changes in aspects of life which also
result in industrial revolution. There were huge changes in technologies and which had brought
innovations in growth of agricultural, industrial production, expansion in economic. Many
themes were developed by mid of 18th century which is increasing foreign trade and creating
greater demand for manufacturing of goods. Urbanisation means where there is increase in
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proportion of living people in urban areas if it is compared with rural. During 18th and 19th
century many MEDS were built and it is migrating people from rural areas to urban.
Two famous person were made investigation on social survey i.e. Booth and Rowntree.
Booth work for an important number of reason. He used scientific method and put people into
recognizable social classes. He also works for a poverty people. He had provided many facilities
to those people who cannot afford to live properly also. His findings were also supported by
another social investigator who called as Seebohm Rowntree. He was the member of wealthy
York and inspired approximately 21,000 people who are living below the line. He defined
poverty as both primary or secondary. In primary, there is lacked in family resources to buy even
the basic necessities. In secondary, families are having enough money to waste their resources in
drinks or gambling.
Liberal reforms are very important because they are showing change in government
policy from a largely laissez approach into more collectivist. The government is also accepting
large changes in their roles and responsibilities so that they can help those section of society
people which could not help themselves. There are many problems which are still needed to
tackle so that government can get relief from poverty line people. The government is offering
pension scheme to old age people, health or unemployment insurance. They are supporting to
poor people while providing basic facilities. In modern era, these facilities are provided through
online so that they can target all persons who are below the poverty line.
Social work are roots to attempts society needs and deal with large number of problem
who are facing poverty and inequality. Their idea is linked with the charity work but they have
also understood terms in broader sense. Even before, rising of modern European states, church
was providing social services. Social legislation in 1945-51, there was the creation of labour and
welfare state. There are many legislations which are framed by government such as Welfare state
in Britain, creation of labour law which protect the rights of individual while providing them
better quality of services (Featherstone, Morris and White, 2013). The welfare state in Britain,
according to report of 1942, they proposed a National insurance system which were based on
three assumptions i.e. family allowance, national health service and full employment. As per this
report this had become the major weapon. So in 1945, Labour Government was elected and
introduced three main key acts; National Insurance Act, 1946, National health services act 1946
and national assistance act, 1948 which has abolished poor law while creation of establishment
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for welfare services. In 1948, children act was also become important element for people to
protect their health from dangerous diseases. Children and social work act 2017, is framed for
the benefit of society people and children. This act provides legal framework for children to
protect their life who are suffering from dangers diseases. Along with this it also safeguarding
the issues and risk of young people who are facing in modern era.
Social workers are playing an essential in providing better services for the wellbeing of
people. in modern societies, traditional norms and values were broken. But the role of individual
is supporting which is belonging to maladjusted person cannot be overestimated. The social
worker is doing their best so that they can satisfy the neds of those people who are belonging
from low poverty line. Social worker is frequently working with NHS also to provide primary
health services to people who are suffering from any illness and diseases.
There are many voluntary organisations who are working for social welfare. They are
making their own rules and regulations for giving benefit to society. For example, on charity
organisation “Save the children” are working as non-profit whose aim is to provide basic need to
children as well as people who are below the poverty line. During second half of 19th century
their primary objectives are to focus on socio-political movements (Howlin and et. al., 2013).
There are many organisations which were established; Arya Samaj (1875), WHO declared the
term NGO in 1945, Prathana Samaj (1873). The objectives of these organisations are serving
social and economic needs of community in weaker section of society and they are not looking
towards profits or loss. Their role in social development is that to encourage farmers to use these
services in free of cost. They are also helping weavers and people who are leaving in village to
satisfy their basic needs such as cloths, shelter and food. So their contribution in social services
and welfare are more than private organisations. The government is also supporting them in
terms of tax relief so that they protect the life of people while providing better treatment to them.
these organisations are working for both rural and urban area which will also improve the
economic condition of country. As there are many people in UK who are below the poverty line,
so it is essential for them that non-profit organisation will work for them.
In Britain, there are three departments who are responsible for personal social services of
people and these are; health department, who is liable for public health in regard to social care.
Second is welfare department, they are responsible for to provide residential care services and
help to elder and disable people (Montoya, Colom and Ferrin, 2011). last is Children department,
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they are responsible to take acre of child. Children department were found in 1948 in response to
take care of children from scandal. Under this act, it become the duty of local authority to
provide better care facility to children in case of neglect or abuse. For society children become
the generic part with the unification of social services department. The social workers are
providing education to them also so that they can do something in their life. Along with this they
are protecting the rights of kids in the form of safeguarding children boards. According to Jack
Claridge, (2017), there is also another act which has been framed for children i.e. Children Act
2004. This act provides legal basis social services and other agencies are also dealing with issues
which are facing by them. This act is designed to guide children and to support them there are
some features which has been provided in regard to children provision; allowing children to
remain healthy and ins safe environment, making contribution in providing positive impact in
their life, also helping in maintaining economic stability for secure the future of children
(Children Act 2004, 2017). While doing all this they can keep their children happy and enjoy
their life according to their own wishes.
Social workers are playing essential role in developing and delivering professionalised
social services to adults. They are making vital contribution for working with social people.
There are some key organisations who are associated with social workers to help adult people
and these are; Association of Director of Adult Social Services, British Association of Social
Worker and many more. They are focusing those people who need support and leaving alone.
These organisations are playing essential role in improving life for their well-being and to
safeguard interest of work (Nicholson, 2012). There are many adult people who are also
suffering from mental problem, so social workers have to deliver crucial facilities in maintaining
their excellent services. Good quality of work will transform the lives of people who are
suffering from metal conditions and it is considered as essential part for multidisciplinary
working. These associations are trying to providing better quality of services to adults so that
they can leave their life better in older time period. They have developed own social policy for
the benefit of people and applying so many approaches for the development of social services.
British welfare has established some laws for poor adult people in order to improve their lifestyle
also.
Social policy is that term which apply to various areas of sectors for political setting (for
welfare state and social services). In this policy it clearly states the guidelines, activities,
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legislation that affecting living condition of human welfare. Social groups have to provide
quality services to their users and society people through which they can upgrade the standard of
living of each and every sort of person (Shilling, 2012). They also used to introduce some health
and care programmes under which they can ensure to sort out all health problem of individuals.
They also take care about the children. In this perspective they used to render such social
services in which controlling of child labour is must. Government and these bodies work in
favour of society and provide some necessary services to every group of society. Another major
work of these bodies is upgrade level of society people under which various number of
campaigns are taking place. This is considering as major work and service which provided by
social bodies (Taylor‐Gooby and Stoker, 2011). Thus, social groups are the only factor which
enable in doing appropriate work which is completely for favour of society.
From above report it has been concluded that social group are playing important role in
providing better services to them. In modern era, it is essential to protect those people who are
suffering from many diseases, so for this they have to conduct health and social care programme.
Through this they can protect life of poor and adult people. Further, if social worker is up dated
with new rules and regulations which are framed by governments, then it will be beneficial for
them only to resolve the issues of societies.
They should also conduct proper training to employees in order to accomplish with their
goals and objectives. As these social groups are introduced which also describes educational
process for poor people. But there was expansion time period in 1930s and 1950s in social group
work for children as well as adult people. So this provide an opportunity to worker to who are
providing services to below poverty line people. Further the services which are provided by
social should be accordance with legislation. Through this they can serve quality of services to
them. Along with this they should also use new technologies to maintain healthy environment in
organisations also.
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APPENDICES
During second half of 19th century their primary objectives are to focus on socio-political
movements. There are many organisations which were established; Arya Samaj (1875), WHO
declared the term NGO in 1945, Prathana Samaj (1873). These voluntary organisations are
established for the benefit of people who are providing social services to customers.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Daly, M. (2011). What adult worker model? A critical look at recent social policy reform in
Europe from a gender and family perspective. Social politics: international studies in
gender, state & society, 18(1), 1-23.
Devries, K. M., & et. al., (2013). The global prevalence of intimate partner violence against
women. Science, 340(6140), 1527-1528.
Featherstone, B., Morris, K., & White, S. (2013). A marriage made in hell: Early intervention
meets child protection. British Journal of Social Work, 44(7), 1735-1749.
Glendinning, C. (2015). A single door: social work with the families of disabled children.
Routledge.
Howlin, P., & et. al., (2013). Social outcomes in mid-to later adulthood among individuals
diagnosed with autism and average nonverbal IQ as children. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(6), 572-581.
Montoya, A., Colom, F., & Ferrin, M. (2011). Is psychoeducation for parents and teachers of
children and adolescents with ADHD efficacious? A systematic literature
review. European psychiatry, 26(3), 166-175.
Nicholson, N. R. (2012). A review of social isolation: an important but underassessed condition
in older adults. The journal of primary prevention, 33(2-3), 137-152.
Shilling, C. (2012). The body and social theory. Sage.
Spencer, M. S., & et. al., (2011). Effectiveness of a community health worker intervention
among African American and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled
trial. American journal of public health, 101(12), 2253-2260.
Taylor‐Gooby, P., & Stoker, G. (2011). The coalition programme: a new vision for Britain or
politics as usual?. The Political Quarterly, 82(1), 4-15.
Online
Children Act 2004. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.workingwithkids.co.uk/childrens-act.html>. [Accessed on 29th July 2017].
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