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SP30013: Social security policy and welfare reform

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: EX 100%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take SP10001 and take SP10002
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
* To compare different ways of meeting financial need, and in particular recent 'welfare reforms' in the UK;
* To critically examine the assumptions and values that structure social security provision.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit, students will have:
* studied key texts relating to the goals and welfare reform in the UK, and abroad (including government papers and independent policy evaluations) Australia and the USA (including government papers, Select Committee reports, independent reports)
* analysed the role of political institutions and critical actors in the reform processes in these countries;
* explored the methods and criteria for the evaluation of the outcomes of social security policy;
* in respect of the UK, examined in detail whether and how the needs of different 'client' groups are met.
By the end of the unit, students should be able to:
* identify and apply appropriate criteria for the analysis of policy goals and outcomes in respect of social security policy.

Skills:
* To think creatively and analytically.
* To communicate an argument.
* To evaluate others' arguments and research.
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information.
* To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.).
* To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge.
* To develop revision and examination skills
* To develop time-management and administrative skills
* To develop presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. oral presentations, seminar and tutorial contributions)
* To develop team and group working skills.

Content:
The scope of structure of social security policy; Models of social security policy; Reviews and reforms; Social Security Expenditure trends; Benefit take-up and adequacy. Reform in relation to specific policy areas; Unemployment and work incentives; Families, children and lone parents, Housing; Pensions; Disability; tax credits.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP30013 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

SP30013 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA (hons) French and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA (hons) German and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA (hons) Italian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA (hons) Italian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA (hons) Russian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA (hons) Spanish and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc (hons) Politics and International Relations (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc (hons) Politics and International Relations (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc (hons) Politics and International Relations (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.