Welfare: Needs, Rights and Risks (Social Policy--Welfare, Power and Diversity, 3)

Welfare: Needs, Rights and Risks addresses the question of how people get access to social welfare in the UK today. It explores the public, political and professional definitions, constructions and conflicts about who should receive social welfare and under what conditions. In a period during which the rationing, targeting and selective provision of welfare have become more significant, more visible and more disputed, this book examines how individuals and groups come to be defined as in need, at risk or deserving of welfare. Introduction John Clarke and Mary Langan, both at University of Open University 1. The Contested Concept of Need Mary Langan, The Open University 2. Rationing Health Care Mary Langan, The Open University 3. Whose Needs, Whose Resources? Accessing Social Care Marian Barnes, University of Birmingham 4. Children's Needs: Who Decides? Esther Saraga, The Open University 5. 'Give 'em What They Deserve': The Young Offender and Youth Justice Policy John Muncie, The Open University 6. Legitimate Membership of the Welfare Community Lydia Morris, University of Essex 7. Review John Clarke and Mary Langan By looking at contemporary concerns about access to social welfare, Welfare examines how social problems involve different principles of needs, rights and entitlements for users of welfare services. This book looks at how the pressure to contain public spending

has led to concerns with setting priorities, targeting and rationing in the provision of public services. These are examined through an exploration of the construction of health, social care and need, "dangerous" youth, "deviant families" and the "underclass."

Education, Politics & IR, Sociology & Social Policy Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 10 Chapter 1 The Contested Concept of Need 12 Chapter 2 Rationing Health Care 47 Chapter 3 Whose Needs, Whose Resources? Accessing Social Care 98 Chapter 4 Children’s Needs: Who Decides? 148 Chapter 5 ‘Give ’em What They Deserve’: The Young Offender and Youth Justice Policy 195 Chapter 6 Legitimate Membership of the Welfare Community 240 Chapter 7 Review 287 Acknowledgements 301 Index 303 By looking at contemporary concerns about access to social welfare, this work examines how social problems involve different needs, rights and entitlements for users of welfare services By looking at contemporary concerns about access to social welfare, this book examines how individuals and groups come to be defined as in need, at risk or deserving of welfare