Policy Press

Policy and practice

Policy Press publishes policy review and polemic books that aim to challenge policy for, or thinking about, a certain field of policy or practice as well as books aimed at a practice audience. These books are written in an accessible style whilst being academically sound and appropriately referenced.

Showing 1-12 of 146 items.

Unequal partners

User groups and community care

Users of social and health care services play an increasingly significant part within systems of local governance. This report examines the strategies user groups adopt to seek their objectives, and explores issues relating to notions of consumerism and citizenship. It should be read by anyone involved in health and social care policy and practice.

Policy Press

Implementing holistic government

Joined-up action on the ground

This report addresses the critical issues of implementation of the long-term public service agenda. The authors draw upon a unique range of research, practice and theory from the fields of community development, regeneration projects, public and private sector management and organisation development, as well as public and social policy.

Policy Press

Researching education

Themes in teaching-and-learning

This book illuminates current debates about the nature and status of research in education and calls for a wider understanding of education by policy makers and research funders.

Policy Press

Ending child poverty

Popular welfare for the 21st century?

Edited by Robert Walker

This classic text presents Blair's Beveridge Lecture alongside the views of some of Britain's foremost policy analysts and commentators. It provides a rich tapestry of analysis, insight and reflection that will stimulate critical debate about the shape of British welfare for some time to come.

Policy Press

Planning with children for better communities

The challenge to professionals

In addition to clarifying why the issue of children's participation should be prioritised, this book uses examples and case studies from a variety of professions and disciplines in order to explain different methods that can be used to support participation. 

Policy Press

The widening gap

Health inequalities and policy in Britain

This report presents critical new evidence on the size of the widening health gap. New geographical data are presented and displayed in striking graphical form. The widening gap should be read alongside Inequalities in health: The evidence presented to the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (The Policy Press, 1999).

Policy Press

Tackling inequalities

Where are we now and what can be done?

This challenging book brings together contributions from leading poverty analysts on inequalities in income, wealth, standard of living, employment, education, housing, crime and health. It charts the extent of the growth in inequalities and offers a coherent critique of the New Labour government's policies aimed at those tackling this crisis.

Policy Press

The welfare of Europe's children

Are EU member states converging?

This ground-breaking book analyses the living standards of nearly 80 million children in the EU. It considers whether the well-being of children is becoming more similar across member states or if the countries are diverging while their economies converge. It provides a wealth of evidence not previously drawn together in a single source.

Policy Press

Developing reflective practice

Making sense of social work in a world of change

Edited by Helen Martyn

This book is an invaluable resource, employing a 'bottom-up' approach to learning. It presents vivid examples of social work practice with children and families and real life illustrations of the challenges facing practitioners. With analysis of each section, it provides essential guidance for students and sets standards for training and practice.

Policy Press

Welfare rights and responsibilities

Contesting social citizenship

This book makes an original contribution to current debates around welfare reform through a qualitative investigation of the opinions and experiences of welfare users. Competing philosophical, political and academic perspectives on citizenship and welfare are also analysed and discussed, making this book important reading for students and teachers.

Policy Press

The making of a welfare class?

Benefit receipt in Britain

Over the last three decades Britain has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of people receiving welfare benefits that has provoked fears of a growing underclass and mass welfare dependency. This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of the reasons for this growth and subjects notions of welfare dependency to empirical test.

Policy Press

Tackling institutional racism

Anti-racist policies and social work education and training

This challenging book analyses the development of anti-racist social work education and training. It critically assesses the concept of 'race', offers an historical exploration of the role of social work and provides an assessment of the backlash against the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work's anti-racist developments.

Policy Press