Social Policy: Theory and Practice

Social Policy: Theory and practice is a fully revised, updated and extended edition of a bestselling social policy textbook, extensively reworked and adapted to meet the needs of its international readership. The book lays out the architecture of social policy as a field of study, binding the discussion of theory to the understanding of social policy in practice. It aims to provide students and practitioners with a sense of the scope, range and purpose of the subject while developing critical awareness of problems, issues and common fallacies. Written in an accessible and engaging style, it explains what social policy is and why it matters; looks at social policy in its social context; considers policy, the role of the state and the social services; explores issues in social administration and service delivery; and focuses on the methods and approaches of the subject. For practitioners, there are discussions of the techniques and approaches used to apply social policy in practice. For students, there are boxes raising issues and reviewing case studies, questions for discussion and a detailed glossary. The book's distinctive, path-breaking approach makes it invaluable for students studying social policy at a range levels, professionals and practitioners in the field of social policy.


About the Author

Paul Spicker is Grampian Chair of Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. His research has included studies of poverty, need, disadvantage and service delivery. He has written widely on the theory of social policy, while his studies of practice have included works on housing management, dementia services and social security.