"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
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.