Social policy, social work and social change

The study of social policy is interdisciplinary in nature and largely concerned with the way resources are distributed and wellbeing is attended to in any given society. Philosophical beliefs about what principles underpin civic wellbeing are strongly linked with political ideology and are subject to change over time. The landscape for examining social policy is shaped by the market, the non-government sector, social movements and the community interacting with the state. Two key questions to consider when examining social policy in any sector are, ‘Whose needs are being met?’ and ‘Whose interests are being served?’ Social work is about fostering social change, and this entails understanding the social policy milieu in which these change efforts occur. Learning how to influence policy is one of the key ways of keeping the social justice agenda alive in social work. The aim of this book is to present a current and topical analysis of key debates and critical issues affecting the current New Zealand social policy landscape, underpinned by some pivotal understandings about policy and the policy process. The reference to ‘social’ in ‘social policy’ implies that some kind of collective response will be made to perceived social problems (Spicker, 2014, p. 7). The ‘policy’ in ‘social policy’ is about understanding the origins of policy, its aims and forms of implementation. In this way Social policy does not study food in itself, but it does affect the regulation and distribution of food; it is not concerned directly with child development, but it is with education and services to help children; it is not concerned with physical health, but is very much concerned with policies to promote health and the provision of medical care