q1 vips Flashcards
state sector ad
Has the financial resources to provide welfare for the whole country: Gov provides welfare state with secure funding as there is little chance of state welfare services going bankrupt, gov can simply raise taxes or borrow money to provide welfare. Means the government provides comprehensive welfare as it is provided to every part of the country giving all people equal access regardless of the areas they live in. Also egalitarian, all people given access equally regardless of their social class or income
Provides high quality care with professional standards: Gov can insist that only those who have received training and have professional qualifications can work for the state. Ensures high quality standards. Regular inspections of welfare services in hospitals, schools and care homes. Gov inspections operate in a legal framework and ensure services are regulated and accountable to a gov minister in parliament. Level of scrutiny ensures high quality care
state sector dis
Wasteful of money and human resources: As gov can provide unlimited funding for the welfare state, its services are often poorly run and without a profit motive they don’t use resources efficiently. Requires high taxes to be paid and as the country is facing an ageing population, the gov is having to pay elderly care over a longer time. Increased burden on taxpayers. Moreover, if welfare benefits are too generous it could lead to a poverty trap and also a dependency culture as people rely to heavily on the state
Not sensitive to the special needs of people: The high demand can’t cope with the need to supply specialist care services to specific special needs groups. EG. Cancer care is often treated better by voluntary or private organisations as they can focus on providing specialist care. State welfare suffers from long wait times-> people have to wait longer for treatment. Cuts in government spending reduces the provision and quality of services offered to the public
voluntary ad
Can save the government money and improve social solidarity in society: Page, charities gave lower costs and help create a sense of community. EG. charities use volunteers and raise finance through donations and fundraising. Also increases community spirit and involvement with campaigns such as ‘Children in Need’. Encourage social solidarity as people come together to support the less fortunate. Coalition government’s policy of the ‘Big Society’ aimed to increase voluntary provision and community spirit and heal the society after the 2011 riots
Can often meet special needs better than the state: Provide a more personal service to those who have specific care needs. More sensitive and responsive to special needs as they have volunteers who can give up time and provide care. Eg Macmillan Cancer provides info and financial support in a more consistent way than the state. Charities fill the gaps in state provision that may struggle with increasing demand. Also relieves burden from state welfare for those who may not be fully catered for by the state
voluntary dis
May lack accountability and regulation of its services: If a charity fails or faces problems it may not be clear who is answerable for the work of the charity. Unlike the state, there is no government minister answerable to parliament, therefore charities lack accountability. EG. When Kids Company closed due to financial difficulties there were media reports of mismanagement of its £20 million fund. Voluntary care may lack proper regulation and may not be subject to the same inspections as the state. Volunteers may provide poor quality care if they lack training and skills to provide high level care.
Cannot provide comprehensive provision across the country and may not be available for the long term: Failure to attract funding, the charity will be closed down and people will lose out on the care. EG. The charity called Pace closed down due to financial difficulties after providing mental health care for the LGBT. Also this care is not universal across the country as only some parts have access. Wealthier areas often have more charitable organisations as they attract more funding from donors
private ad
Use welfare resources more efficiently: Need to make profit so they have less bureaucracy and waste that state. Emphasis is placed on efficiency as too much administration reduces profit. Friedman, better service to the public as it’s based on profit. Private sector also takes pressure off the state tax burden and reduces waiting lists for state services. Through the PFI further pressure taken off state funds by allowing new schools/hospitals to be built by private companies
Treats recipients as customers: More emphasis on quality of care. There is a need to attract demand for their services otherwise they will go out of business. This profit motive contrasts with the state as they don’t need to worry as much if they are providing poor quality services. Gives people greater choice over their type of care and avoids long waiting lists. Giddens says this is a good thing and that state welfare should be combined with private and voluntary to help rising demand.
private dis
May suffer from a lack of control and regulation: May not be subject to the same levels of inspection and scrutiny as state welfare services, for example, they may be able to employ unqualified staff. May lack proper regulation of its services not subject to the same controls and inspections as state run services. Workers in private care homes may provide poor quality care if they lack training and skills and fail to provide the high level of care that would come from a more regulated state service. For example, in 2012 Winterbourne View private hospital was closed down for employing unqualified staff and failing to provide appropriate care to adults with special needs. May lack accountability as private companies are accountable to shareholders and not Parliament and may not need to follow government guidelines on care.
Pursuit of profits may lead to cuts in the quality of service: If they can save money on costs it will lead to greater profits, but may lead to poor service. For example, the company Capita is responsible for supporting GP practices in London, but its cost saving measures in 2016 resulted in shortages of vital supplies and doctors having to cancel appointments. Only available to those with money and this causes a two tier system of welfare with the poor relying on state or voluntary. Private welfare services will also end if the business closes down. This could have severe consequences for those using private care, such as in the case of the closure of Southern Care Homes, when many elderly people had to be moved from their residential care at short notice.
informal ad
Strengthens family life and social responsibility: 1980, Thatcher said the welfare state was creating a ‘nanny state’ and stopped people from seeking support from relatives and friends. Argued that informal care made people more resourceful and prevented them from having the stigma of ‘going into a home’. Also stops people from becoming institutionalised in a home and gives a degree of control over their lives. Allows people to be near to those who care for them.
Promotes independence and self reliance: New RIght claim informal care stops people from becoming too dependent on the state. This idea was the thinking behind the creation of the CSA, which attempted to make ‘absent’ fathers more responsible for their children. Saves government and taxpayers money. The care quality commission said it costs more to keep an old person in a state care home than in their own home
informal dis
Demands of informal care fall mainly on women: As the role of primary carers women are expected to take care of family needs. Has a damaging impact on the lifestyle of women carers. In family women act as the absorbers of stress like an ‘emotional sponge’. This can not only lead to health problems but also ‘hidden poverty’ as they put other families ahead of their own needs. Balbo, welfare hangs together thanks to labour of women which is unpaid and undervalued
May be unsatisfactory as the family lacks adequate resources: Lack skills and specialist equipment to provide suitable care. Could place risk those who need care and also the carers themselves as they may face injury. This situation is particularly damaging when care demands are placed on the young. This is unrecognised by social services and places a great strain on the lifestyle of the young, and can damage their education and employment prospects. Moreover, families are often left to ‘pick up the pieces’ when state care has failed
