|
 Academic Year:
| 2012/3 |
| Owning Department/School:
| Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take SP10001 and take SP10002 |
| 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. |
| Programme availability: |
SP30013 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
SP30013 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
|