Product Description

This superb Companion provides a comprehensive and up–to–date guide and essential resource to social policy.

• A major resource and comprehensive digest for students working in the discipline: outlines all of the main themes and issues covered in the study of social policy at undergraduate level, setting them in comparative perspective.
  
• Provides a summary of the major sources of material and data available to students of social policy, offering guidance to access to, and use of these resources.
  
• Includes information on how students can study social policy beyond undergraduate level as well as giving guidance on possible careers in social policy and the use of social policy in a range of other careers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #349575 in Books
• Published on: 1997-09-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 417 pages

Review
"A comprehensive and masterly introduction to the subject which will be widely used by teachers and students." David Donnison, Professor Emeritus at the University of Glasgow

"The range of material included is extensive and detailed, drawing on a vast range of sources and perspectives. There is a concerted effort to include issues around race, nationality and migration in the mainstream discussions of policies and contexts." SAGE race relations abstracts

"Publication of [this book] is a significant development for social policy studies in Britain. This is certainly a book I hope my students will buy, and benefit from." David Hirst, University of Wales, Bangor

"This is a comprehensive volume that gives an excellent general overview of the subject of social policy. It will soon become a strongly recommended text on many social policy courses." Alan Clarke, University of Surrey

From the Back Cover
This superb Companion provides a comprehensive and up–to–date guide and essential resource to social policy which students will wish to keep as a constant source of reference, inspiration and guidance throughout the course of their degree studies – from their first encounters with the discipline through into employment and advanced study.

It seeks to convey the excitement and immediacy of social policy′s intellectual and political engagements with the world, and its practical applications in research and employment. Written by a distinguished team of scholars and teachers in the forefront of social policy this volume provides an authoritative introduction to the range of thinking and scholarship.

The Companion sets out to:

• Introduce students to the scope and structure of the subject – and its (inter)relationship with other disciplines



• Provide readers with a guide to the theoretical and ideological study of Social Policy



• Focus on the provision and delivery of social policies



• Examine the way in which welfare services are organized and analyzed



• Provide an overview and guide to the resources that can be drawn upon while studying



• Explore the aspects of further study of the discipline beyond undergraduate level and the use of Social Policy in the pursuit of a range of both specialist and non–specialist careers.

About the Author
Pete Alcock is Professor of Social Policy and Head of Department at the University of Birmingham.

Angus Erskine is Senior Lecturer in Social Policy in Applied Social Science at the University of Stirling.

Margaret May is Principal Lecturer in Social Policy at London Guildhall University.

Customer Reviews

excellent start point for social policy students.
This book is very good for students just started a social policy or similar degree. it deals with complex policy issues in a readable fashion and is an excellent starting point for policy issues.

A must for social Policy Students
If you're studying Social Policy or Public Policy this book is for you.

It contains a vast amount of knowledge with an excellent index and contents page. Every subject matter you will need is covered.

If you are a first year don't be put off by the detail, this book covers first year to post-grad so there is a lot of information you won't need straight away but will be glad you have in your second and thirds years.

Very intellectual book
I am currently a student studying a social work degree. I bought this book to use for the social policy module. The information contained in this book is very indepth. I think for those students who are studying a social policy degree this book would be a valuable addition. I did use it for my social policy essay but I personally struggled to understand this book. The book is very academic.