Social Services in UK

Today social work has become a profession and a social science committed to the hunt of social justice, to quality of life, and to the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in a society. Social services providers draw on the social sciences and on clinical expertise to solve social problems. They can work in research, practice, or both. In UK social service providers usually possess a degree or registered license in the discipline, dependent on national law. There is a vast range available where social work research is focused, such as individual and family therapy, social policy, public administration and development. Social service providers are organized into local, national, and international professional bodies to further the aims of the profession.

Professional social workers, especially in UK, work in a variety of mainly public settings, including: grassroots advocacy, hospitals, hospices, community health agencies, schools, international organizations, employee assistance, philanthropy, and even the military. You may also find some social workers work as psychotherapists, counselors, psychiatric social workers, community organizers or mental health practitioners.

Let us discuss about social care. Well social care is defined as the provision of social work, personal care, protection or social support services to children or adults in need or at risk, or adults with needs arising from illness, disability, old age or poverty and their families and carers. That condition may have one or more of the following aims: to protect people who use care services, to preserve or advance physical or mental health, to promote independence and social inclusion, to improve opportunities and life chances, to strengthen families and to protect human rights in relation to people's social needs.

One can find many different types of social care available. It can include residential and domiciliary care, community support and activities, information and advisory services and advocacy, as well as support for carers.

Social care is normally used as a synonymous term with social welfare, and as an alternative to social work.

Actually social care has long existed as an informal concept, through family and community support and charitable works. Infact earliest Act in England to offer formal support was the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which referred those in need of health or domestic care, housing, or employment to the care of their parish.

With the passage of time social care became more formalised with the advent of social work in the USA and UK in the 19th century. This shift is credited to the end of the feudal system and the rise of industrialisation, which bought greater social deprivation. Moreover, it also bought a decline in the support provided by family and close-knit communities as people became more mobile and moved to different areas for work. Social care service was often provided by voluntary organizations, but some services were financed through health insurance contributions collected through mutually owned societies.

It is very clear that when the UK Liberal Government came into power in 1906, the first means-tested pension came into force for people aged 70 and over. Additionally formal health and social care provision followed with the creation of the NHS and the welfare state in England in the 1940s, making statutory health and social care free at the point of access.