Analysis of Social Policy and Contemporary Issues: UK Context

This report delves into the realm of social policy and its intersection with contemporary issues, particularly within the UK context. It begins with an introduction to social policy, emphasizing its role in addressing human welfare and navigating current challenges. The report then analyzes specific aspects of social policy through case studies, examining the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on organizations like the NHS and addressing issues of discrimination. It explores the historical development of social policy, the influence of various factors, and the role of mass media and other channels in disseminating information related to health and social care. Furthermore, the report discusses the methods used by the NHS to disseminate information and the importance of evaluating the reliability of information sources. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of social policy, its practical applications, and its relevance to contemporary social issues in the UK.

Social Policy and
Contemporary Issues

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
SECTION 1.....................................................................................................................................1
SP 1.1...........................................................................................................................................1
SP 2.1...........................................................................................................................................1
SP 2.2...........................................................................................................................................2
CL 1.1..........................................................................................................................................2
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................2
CL 1.2..........................................................................................................................................2
CL 2.2..........................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Social policy is the set of theories and practices that are related with the institutions
situated within society and having a real impact on the world. This policy is needed to be
implemented by government, business and voluntary organisations that individuals and families
residing in society experience (An introduction to Social Policy, 2016). Main aim of this policy
is human welfare as in today’s era, there are many contemporary issues which people are facing
and in order to deal with the same, concept of social policy came into existence. In the present
report, with reference to the given case studies, various concepts related to social policy and
contemporary issues will be discussed.
TASK 1
SECTION 1
SP 1.1
Focusing on the period up to 1945, in 19th century, religion was the main consideration
that can be taken as the voluntary sector in welfare. However, in early 20th century, liberalisation
and British welfare came into existence where votes for women were gained. It can be
understood with taking example of NHS which is following Equality Act 2010 so that social
welfare can be implemented in the organisation. As per this act, no firm is allowed to
discriminate people on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender reassignment,
disability, age, religion, maternity or marriage civil partnership (Marx, 2016). For example,
Marie is working as a Nurse in NHS where earlier she was not getting paid as that of her male
co-workers getting for the same work. However, after the execution of social policy, that is,
Equality Act 2010, she is being paid in the similar way as her male co-workers are getting.
Therefore, on the basis of gender, firm has now stopped discriminating the staff members.
SP 2.1
An Act of Parliament is the reason behind creating a new law or in making some
alterations in the existing law. The Equality Act 2010 came in the process involved in
development of a key act of parliament as in UK, many contemporary issues have raised in
which people were facing discrimination on the various basis like gender, race, religion, age, etc.
In order to resolve the issues of society, the Equality Act 2010 has been formulated so that every
firm in health and social care (HSC) industry like NHS will be liable to follow the same
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(Fairweather and Tornatzky, 2013). In its formulation, there was the input of information, ideas
and research done by many different interest groups, people and firms. Then the information
about policy was disseminated and policy was put into action.
SP 2.2
Several factors are there that have influenced the development of social policy like
biological, nutrition and environmental along with including standard of living of people. In UK,
main factors that are leading to development of policies like Equality Act 2010 are
discrimination with people in organisations or in society based on their gender reassignment,
religion, maternity or marriage civil partnership, disability, age, gender, race and sexual
orientation (Ehrenreich, 2014). However, one of the main causes is that in health and social care
firms like NHS, staff members feel discriminated based on their gender and thus, it is important
to execute the social policy, that is, the Equality Act 2010.
CL 1.1
In today’s era, it is mass media which is making people aware with the information
related to health and social care issues. Through mass media, gap between HSC setting, NHS and
the public is getting reduced and people at a large scale are getting information within a very
short duration and in bulk. Along with that, there are some other ways also present by which
information relating to health and social care can reach to public domain like internet, radio, TV
and newspaper. Apart from mass media, social media also plays a vital role in disseminating
information about HSC which includes Facebook, Twitter and others (DuBois and Miley, 2013).
SECTION 2
CL 1.2
Various techniques are there by which information relating to health and social care can
be disseminated by NHS among the public. It is done by sectorial policy which is implemented
by the UK government which includes dispersing information to public and related parties
through some of the common methods like radio, pamphlets, campaigns based on education as
well as television. Apart from that, there are two other mechanisms also present by which
information related to HSC can be disseminated by NHS among public, that is, report cards and
accreditation (Wellington, 2015).
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CL 2.2
It is important for public residing in the UK to evaluate reliability and validity of
information related to health and social care in NHS before accepting it as a fact. People can do
it by assessing the source from where they have gained the information, person who is issuing
the same and the way it is presented. Here, sources may be like government, political and
religious agendas as well as the pressure groups. It is the responsibility of public to assess that
whether there is any agenda behind publishing the information or it is merely a presentation of
facts (Thoits, 2010).
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
DuBois, B. L. and Miley, K. K., 2013. Social work: An empowering profession. Pearson Higher
Ed.
Ehrenreich, J. H., 2014. The altruistic imagination: A history of social work and social policy in
the United States. Cornell University Press.
Fairweather, G. W. and Tornatzky, L. G., 2013. Experimental Methods for Social Policy
Research: Pergamon International Library of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Social Studies (Vol. 69). Elsevier.
Wellington, J., 2015. Educational research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches.
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Online
An introduction to Social Policy. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.spicker.uk/social-policy/health.htm>. [Accessed on 12th December, 2016].
Marx, J., 2016. Current Issues and Programs in Social Welfare. [Online]. Available through:
<http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/recollections/current-issues-and-programs-in-social-
welfare/>. [Accessed on 12th December, 2016].
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