Contemporary Social Policy and the Welfare of Children and their Essay

Contemporary Social Policy and the Welfare of Children and their Families in the UK - Essay Example Hence, just like in the past, according to Hodgson and Spours (1999), present-day ‘childhoods’ and contemporary children are marked by a political aspect. The history of child welfare policies in the UK can be described in terms of a steady and restricted intrusion into the family as a reaction to a nation’s evolving needs and perceptions. The acceptance of particular roles and duties by the state towards child welfare, specifically with regard to health and education, has become entrenched (Great Britain Department of Health, 2006). On the contrary, the more focused policies like those involved in the criminal justice system and in the protection of children have obliged to take action in response to certain issues and problems that seem critical then, issues which mainly concern particular families and communities (Hallet & Prout, 2003), while neglecting most families and communities. Hence, this essay will also analyse the effect of the modern children’s rights movement on social policy and law involving children. New Labour: The ‘Social Investment’ Approach The concept of ‘the social investment state’ has arisen as the Third Way ideology’s normative principle and a practical response to the problems and issues of the welfare state recognised by Third Way scholars and policymakers (Lewis & Surender, 2004). The practical response and normative principle are interlocked. The community and the child are viewed as symbols of the social investment state (Lewis & Surender, 2004). Particularly, the child assumes an iconic position. Yet, it has been argued by Hendrick (2005) that the social investment’s new... This essay analyses the effect of the modern children’s rights movement on social policy and law involving children. This paper stresses that the government, in relation to the problem of Child Abuse, formed the Every Child Matters agenda, aimed at enhancing the quality of child services, but particularly children at risk. In addition to having a common focus on self-sufficiency and choice, these policies and guidelines have another common feature: they all nearly entirely overlook the requirement for defenceless children to be safeguarded from abuse (Leira & Saraceno, 2008). Similarly, the Green and White papers on child care fall short in comprising any mentions of child protection plans This report makes a conclusion that the policy responses to the mounting concerns over the rights of children and granting children ‘expression’ or ‘voice’ could have the result, expected or otherwise, of expanding the importance of the individual obligation of children as well as the duties of their parents. In encouraging children and young people to become more accountable for their own behaviours, the punishments given by adults can be viewed to be even more repressing. Paradoxically, the expansion of the concept of children’s rights could have the outcome of soliciting children into dynamically controlling their own freedom and thus exposing them to a much more advanced kind of adult control, guidance, and monitoring.