BS1033 Local Government

1
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and Change

• 8. Social Services

2
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• After the establishment of the NHS in 1948, there
  were typically 3 local authority departments
• Health departments (public health, certain
  aspects of social care)
• Welfare departments (residential care, help to
  disabled and elderly)
• Childrens departments

3
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• In the 1960s they were unified into.
• Social Service Departments..
• Instead of specialised, we now have generic
  social workers.
• Much of the spending went on residential care
• But much of the professional work was with
  children.
• The balance was shifted with the introduction of
  community care

4
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• It is the duty of a local authority to receive
  the child into care in cases of abuse and
  neglect. The costs of receiving a child into
  care are now large (500 per week?)
• Since 1989 Children Act, somewhat more difficult
  to take a child into care. Now much more
  emphasis on community care

5
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• It is the duty of a local authority to receive
  the child into care in cases of abuse and
  neglect. The costs of receiving a child into
  care are now large (500 per week?)
• Since 1989 Children Act, somewhat more difficult
  to take a child into care. Now much more
  emphasis on community care

6
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Social workers are criticised if they
• Take children into care unnecessarily (although
  it is now more difficult)
• Criticised when children die or are mistreated
• Generally have large case-loads (40 children at
  a time ?)

7
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Philosophy of community care
• Large Victorian institutions to be
  dismantled/sold off
• Residential care (for the elderly, mentally and
  physically handicapped) keeps a philosophy of
• Keeping individuals in their own homes/schools
• But is this ultimately a cost-saving measure?

8
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Community care policy
• Social Services departments were to be regarded
  as lead departments commissioning services from
  others (e.g. in the private sector). Care
  managers would be responsible for allocating
  resources and determining priorities.
• In practice, budgets have been severaly strained
  in the 1990s and many services have diminished
  (reflecting a lack of political will)

9
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Bed Blocking is one of the greatest dilemmas
• Shows the interaction between different areas of
  policy
• It also shows the robbing Peter to pay Paul
  principle
• http//news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_193
  7000/1937221.stm

10
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Related issues
• Housing problems
• Is the nature of the Housing problem
• Not enough houses?
• Affordability?
• Poor condition?

11
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Housing and social deprivation
• Slum high rise estates represent areas of
  minimum choice
• Social segregation has taken place by housing
  officers
• Local authority housing now largely sold off and
  its place taken by Housing Associations
• Private rented sector typically poor in
  facilities

12
BS1033 Local Government Continuity and
Change8. Social Services

• Problem estates .. Problems can be
• Vandalism
• Rubbish
• Home maintenance
• Lack of community facilities
• Empty housing
• Design
• How is this to be rectified?