Project description
Contemporary Issues in Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Initial Essay guidance.

Note: whatever you choose to focus on you will be required to offer an opening discussion on welfare and policy, and the pursuit of wellbeing. So, for now there is a great deal to be getting on with ………………………
Assignment Brief.
Critically evaluate policy responses to a contemporary wellbeing related issue in health and/or social care.
This title enables you to choose from a wide range of topics
.
Whatever the topic, you will need to provide a contextual discussion on welfare and policy and the place of ‘wellbeing’. You will then need to ensure that you critically evaluate – preferably drawing on evidence – the strengths and weaknesses of any policy measures that have been taken to address your issue of choice.

Critically evaluate policy responses to a contemporary wellbeing related issue in health and/or social care.
This title enables you to choose from a wide range of topics. Whatever the topic, you will need to provide a contextual discussion on welfare and policy, and the place of ‘wellbeing’. You will then need to ensure that you critically evaluate – preferably drawing on evidence – the strengths and weaknesses of any policy measures that have been taken to address your issue of choice (which must be within the field of health and social care).
A further source of critical evaluation might be from analysing competing ideological approaches to the same policy .For example, how might different political parties address the same problem? What policies might they utilise/have they utilised? Is there evidence that they were more successful?
Obvious topics are those that we will be addressing later in the module: personalisation; quality assurance; service user and carer participation/PPE; commissioning; safeguarding; interprofessional working. These are all measures that were introduced by previous government but have been built upon and extended by the present government. What is the evidence that they ‘work’ for those that they are intended for? What can you find that informs you of the motivation for their existence? That is, why have they become policy ? How do they address wellbeing?
Or you might go for an aspect of some of the ‘big’ government measures on Public Health or NHS reform (service user, funding or workforce change).
There will be many opportunities to discuss the essay throughout the semester: LRSGS, Tutorials and we can set aside some seminar time also. Please do not fret….
Contemporary Issues in Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
Essay Guidance 1
Critically analyse policy responses to a contemporary wellbeing issue related to health and social care.
Introduction.
Wellbeing – increasing focus – locally, nationally and globally – on wellbeing, specifically subjective wellbeing (which is…….?)
Measuring Happiness and Life satisfaction.
Government policy seeks to ensure positive outcomes for the population and hence ensure wellbeing. Surveying wellbeing is completed in an effort to design social policies that promote it. This is especially the case for welfare policy including health and social care.

Welfare.
The Welfare State. The significance of ideology in shaping what it looks like at any given time (Journey from Social democracy to neoliberalism).
Currently neoliberalism is dominant in the delivery of welfare leading to the view that
‘Wellbeing can best be advanced by enabling the freedom of the market, strong property rights and free trade. Each individual is held responsible and accountable for his or her own actions and well-being. This principle extends into the realms of welfare, education, health care, and even pensions.’ Advocates less state intervention (hence welfare reforms, changes to the NHS).

Making policy.
How is policy made? By what measures?
How would you characterise the processes of Coalition policy making?
Health and Social Care Policy – set the scene generally but briefly for 2013
Your chosen area. (Topic ) (Obesity )
What policy will you choose to critically evaluate?
Outline your choice. Outline the policy. How did it come about? Implementation?
Discuss – drawing on evidence/reports/research – the success or effectiveness of the implementation of that policy.
Why/why not has it worked/been successful? How are you judging that?
You should engage with the demographic issues that we have discussed and the way in which they might impact on the successful delivery of the policy/ies.

You may then consider some of the following:

You might for example, address it from a political point of view? Would a different approach have ensured greater success if you feel for example that the policy has not been effective/successful (you might even look to other countries as an example?)

Is a neoliberal approach conducive to ensuring wellbeing for all?
Does your policy promote individual responsibility and choice for example – and is that appropriate? Does the current mantra of individual responsibility, control and choice recognise the challenges faced by many groups with health and social care needs who may be living in poverty or within challenging environments with limited access to information. In this context, personal budgets and direct payments for example may seem unobtainable.

Or even:
Can the workforce deliver what is needed? Given the current policy context?

Conclusion.
Your final thoughts on your critical evaluation and whether perhaps your policy contributes to wellbeing. You might even some suggestions for an alternative way of looking at the area of policy.

Essay Guidance (2)
Critically analyse policy responses to a contemporary wellbeing issue related to health and social care.
Introduction.
(As you wish: summative and signposting or scene-setting)

Wellbeing – increasing focus – locally, nationally and globally – on wellbeing. Wellbeing as about more than the absence of illness. Key markers in the shift towards such a view (WHO, Welfare) . Define it broadly including both elements (subjective and objective).

Government policy seeks to ensure positive outcomes for the population and hence ensure wellbeing. Surveying wellbeing is completed in an effort to design social policies that promote it. This is especially the case for welfare policy including health and social care.

Welfare.
The Welfare State. The significance of ideology in shaping what it looks like at any given time (Perhaps briefly outline the move from Social democracy to neoliberalism). Welfare policy can contribute to general wellbeing by providing services that seek to improve individual lives.

Making policy.
How is policy made? By what measures?
How would you characterise the processes of Coalition policy making?
Health and Social Care Policy – set the scene generally but briefly for 2013.

You might for example want to focus on a key aspect of the NHS reforms, elements of which currently or previously existed in some form or another (commissioning is a good example, as is technology).
There are, for example, one or two aspects of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 where wellbeing is central and explicit: Public Health and Health and Wellbeing Boards. (Commissioning also has such a remit).
Part of the aim of these policies is to improve inequalities of health and improve local services. Transferring the duty to local authorities is an indicator that the broader social landscape is recognised as impacting on health and wellbeing.

If you focussed on Public Health you could address some of the strategies that have been implemented and are ongoing (Obesity,Smoking, Alcohol or the higher profile strategies of the Responsibility Deal or Change4Life).