THE course aims to deepen your understanding of contemporary social issues and problems by looking at how social policy issues are constructed and contested. Social policies impinge on many aspects of our lives and embrace a very wide range of activities, from educational and employment policies to family support and child protection. In all these areas, social policies are hotly contested with regard to the role of the state and the kind of policies it should pursue. This course revolves around three main issues in debates over social policy: arguments over needs, rights and responsibilities. The main focus is on the development of social policies in Britain with regard to families and children. The course gives you an opportunity to examine different social policies and perspectives, and the impact these have on social conditions and problems
