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Importance of Social Policy in Social Welfare

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 Importance of Social Policy in Social Welfare
Rasike Karunarathne R A R
B. A. Special in Sociology (Hons) University of Sri Jayewardenepura,
M.A. in Sociology, University of Mysore in India
[email protected]

Abstract
Governments in over the world provide welfare facilities to enhance the living
condition of inmates of their countries. Thereby, the political authority accompanies
many welfare schemes in terms of the social wellbeing of society. When it is discussed
the concept of welfare, social policy is taken important place because providing social
welfare facilities always based on the social policies of a country. Therefore, it is
important to discuss the role of social policy in social work. Formulating social policy
most probably is done by a government authority in addition to non-governmental
agencies would involve providing social services under the government supervision.
This paper is discussed that the importance of social policy for social work in society.
Key Words;
policy, Social work, Social policy and social welfare
Introduction

At the set-out, it is important to identify the meaning of Social Policy because it would
lead getting comprehensive knowledge about the social policy and it is also good
lesion that how does it work in society and eventually, there will be able to understand
the relationship between social policy and social work.
The word ‘policy’ denotes the principles that govern action directed towards any given ends,
and can therefore even imply change. Therefore, it can be said that policy is action-oriented.
Social policy thereby can be seen as a positive instrument of change and is part of a political
process. However, it is important to understand that social policies may not always be
associated with altruism and may not always be positive, because a social policy that may
benefit one group, may actually be detrimental to another group. Hence, a critical lens
towards the social policy is pertinent. In a nutshell, social policy is social because and where
social needs are defined: All collectively delivered programs are specifically intended to
satisfy some universally understood “needs”; they are embodiments, first, of society's will to
live as an organic whole and, second, of everyone's expressed need to help other people
survive1. Social policy is described as a set of decisions made with the input of several people
and parties and put into effect after the state establishes its foundation2.

1
Reisman D. (2001) The Definition of Social Policy. In: Richard Titmuss. Palgrave Macmillan,
London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230512917_2
2 Daly M.; Governance and social policy. Journal of Social Policy. 2003;32(1):113-128. DOI:
10.1017/500447279402006840. Available from: http://www/Cambridge.org/core/terms

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3829850

 According to the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics social policy
is an interdisciplinary and applied topic dealing with the study of societies reactions to social
need3. Social reform seeks to better people's lives, with a particular focus on the well-being of
those who are disadvantaged in any way4. Social policy is a broad disciplinary term that refers
to providing solutions to social problems. Economic and environmental conditions influence
social issues. These shifts are often influenced by the societal structure and government
policy5.

Role of Social Policy in Society

In order to achieve its objectives, social policy must have certain principles regarding the
policies it determines. The state's and other institutions' social policies have a strong impact
on the well-being of society. The health laws of a state must be calculated by examining its
social policy. Human needs and challenges, human treatment and social justice, performance,
equality, and preference, altruism, reciprocity, and duty, and separation, distinction, and
exclusion are some of the topics and fundamental values associated with social policy6.

The welfare state should give certain rights to the people. The following basic rights are
considered that there should be provided by a government to establish welfare facilities in the
society. Therefore, the followings are can be considered as basic principles of having society
in a welfare state;

 Democracy: The goal of achieving equality is at the heart of liberal policy. In order to
achieve equality, resources must be allocated equally. Fair results, equal access, and
equal justice are also examples of equality.
 Equal Opportunity: y refers to the treatment of equal classes of people. People should
be granted equal opportunities regardless of their gender or group. Furthermore,
everybody should have the same benefits in the school system and on the job market,
 Need: caring, and accommodation are also basic needs. There are no limits to needs,
although it is unclear which needs should be protected by governments.
 Freedom and Right: There are many kinds of rights. Civil rights imply not only the
lack of unjust imprisonment and incarceration but also the freedom to express any
viewpoint. Democratic rights include things like social welfare and social security, as
well as the right to an education. Voting and entering political parties are examples of
political rights, as is the freedom to express oneself democratically7.

The term "social welfare" refers to what is required to provide individuals with the services
and opportunity they need to live happy and healthy lives8. There is bondage between social
welfare and social policy. The result of social policy is disseminated welfare facilities among
the people in society. dissemination of social welfare facilities is based on the social policies
are done by the government. Social policy is referred to as guidelines and interventions for
improving, maintaining, or creating working environments that are conducive to human

3 https://www.definitions.net/definition/need
4 http://lib.oup.com.au/he/samples/mcclelland_SPA3e_sample.pdf
5
Dundar, Aravacik Esra (2018)
6 Deacon B. (2007) (Global Social Policy and Governance. London: Sage Publications
7
Dundar, Aravacik Esra(2018) https://www.intechopen.com/books/public-economics-and-finance/social-
policy-and-the-welfare-state
8
Herrick, J. (2009). Social policy and the Progressive Era. In J. Midgley & M. M. Livermore (Eds.), The
handbook of social policy (pp. 114–132). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3829850

health. Education, wellness, housing, jobs, and food are all examples of social policy. The
public policy includes social policy, but it also includes economic policy, industrial policy,
and social policy, among other things. Definitive solutions to supply, hunger, and injustice
are unlikely to emerge, so it's critical to keep the doors open for debate, creativity, invention,
and learning in social development approaches under consideration. Social policies can assist
the society with making significant improvements in a variety of areas, including Quality of
life, education, citizenship, culture, income, and economic status of rural residents9

Importance of Social Policy in Social Welfare

It is believed that social policies are extremely important to change the living condition of
people who live in society. There can be seen manifold a social policy for different countries.
The policies are depended on the government approach for welfare and economic stability.
Anyhow all over the governments maximumly endeavour to establish a conducive well
welfare scheme for their people. In that manner, there should be given attention to identifying
the relationship between social policy and social work. Human practices such as social policy
and social work are concerned with human rights and needs. Social policy is intended to
establish structures in society that enable people to exercise their human rights and fulfil their
basic needs. Individuals, families, and neighbourhoods that are unable to exercise their
human rights or meet their fundamental needs are the focus of social work10.

Collective interventions specifically impacting social security, social structures, and social
interactions are referred to as social policy. Owing to the increased availability of social
services by transnational entities such as aid donors, non-governmental organizations, and
transnational businesses in developed countries. Social policy has increasingly become
important. In this evolving climate, the state's job is to provide an "enabling environment" for
private providers of social services while reducing its social spending and activities11.

Conclusion

Both concepts of social policy and welfare are taken an important place in society due to these
concepts are directly engaged in people. Social welfare policy is highly considered by people
when they elect a new government. Therefore, all political parties eager to introduce very
impressive welfare facilities under their election policy. Thereby, it obviously gives a more
important place for the social welfare policies than other policies, especially in the developing
countries.

A government social policy determines by the current political party which came to power.
Are social policies important for a country? The answer is obviously yes because social policy
is focused on many target group of the population. There may be unemployment, school
population, marginalized group or health facilities etc. Therefore, a government social policy
scheme defects that the government counterpart to society. If a government provides free
education for all then the government has to spend huge money to implement free education.
In this manner, many countries in the world make assure to provide free education also free
health facilities for their people. It is an enormous task of a government providing free
education, health and other welfare schemes to people. Some policies do not provide for all
people in the country. Most of the time some policies are targeted at underprivileged people

9
Hernández – Vargas José G, Noruzi Reza Mohammad, Haj Ali Irani Nezhad Farhad(2011)
10 Doel, Mark; Kachkachishvili, Iago; Leppik, Lauri and Semigina ,Tetyana(2011)
11 https://gsdrc.org/document-library/social-policy-in-a-development-context

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3829850

 in society. For instances, subsistence allowance or subsidiary is focused on lower-income
families. While a government is functioning well and have strong economic stability but if
they do not cater to more welfare facilities focusing on people in society it would be a great
effect on people. Then, people would respond by giving their vote against the current regime
of a political party next time. Therefore, social policy is vitally important not beneficiaries but
also for the government.

Accordingly, it seems to be social policy play a major role in society, therefore, if a government
really want to establish social welfare in society there must be a well define social policy to
implement welfare activities.

References
1. Deacon B. (2007) (Global Social Policy and Governance. London: Sage Publications

2. Doel, Mark; Kachkachishvili, Iago; Leppik, Lauri and Semigina ,Tetyana; Social Policy
and Social Work in Transition; Volume 2 Issue 2 December
2011(http://www.democ.lt/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SW-and-SP-in-
Transition-Vol.-2-issue-26.pdf)

3. Dundar Aravacik Esra (2018); Social Policy and the Welfare State;
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330940749_Social_Policy_and_the_Wel
fare_State

4. Dundar Aravacik Esra (2018); Social Policy and the Welfare State; October 30th
2018Reviewed: November 2nd 2018Published: DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82372;
https://www.intechopen.com/books/public-economics-and-finance/social-
policy-and-the-welfare-state

5. Hernández – Vargas José G, Noruzi Reza Mohammad, Haj Ali Irani Nezhad Farhad;
What is Policy, Social Policy and Social Policy Changing; International Journal of
Business and Social Science; Vol. 2 No. 10; June 2011

6. Reisman D. (2001) The Definition of Social Policy. In: Richard Titmuss. Palgrave
Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230512917_2

Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3829850

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