bookmark us

click me to order your dissertation
UK Dissertation Guarantees

Free Dissertations - Social Work Dissertations

Quasi-markets Were Introduced To Encourage Competition And In Terms Of ...

Quasi-markets were introduced to encourage competition and in terms of actual practice, the imposition of quasi-markets in the context of social work service delivery has meant, cash-limited budgets, purchaser-provider splits, contracting out, the use of independent agencies and more widespread use of charges (Harris, 2003 p.43), competition for contracts between various service providers, the introduction of ‘functional units' (James, 1994 p.46 cited in Gould & Baldwin, 2004 p.48) and more specifically, work being, determined by objectives denoted as targets or performance indicators set by managers, role specialization, hierarchical line management and some devolution of decision-making to managers down this line of control (Gould & Baldwin, 2004 p.48)
Managerialism (as opposed to administrative bureaucracy or professionalism (Parton 1996 p.47)) can be defined as the assumption that 'better management will prove an effective solvent to a wide range of social and economic ills' (Pollitt 1993). Gould & Baldwin (2004 p 48) argue that it was perceived public sector inefficiencies in the pre-1980s that were the underlying factor leading to the development of managerialism within health and social welfare organisations. They note that the, key facets of what has become known as managerialism [is the] favouring of managers and management control over welfare professionals such as social workers (Clarke, Gerwitz and McLaughlin, 2000; James, 1994 cited in Gould & Baldwin, 2004 p.48).
Underpinning the idea of managerialism in the public sector is the belief that previous forms of bureau-professional organisation did not provide an effective form of management, and that the presumed technical rationality of managerialism is to be preferred to the indeterminate processes which were held to characterize professionally dominated decision making.
Linked to this is the promotion of managerialist philosophies within the public sector. In this context, managerialism can be defined as the assumption that better management will prove an effective solvent to a wide range of social and economic ills (Pollit 1993).
Much of this change has come about due to the shift to local authorities becoming the lead providers of care in the community. At the same time, the government has created social care markets and encouraged consumers to exercise their rights in the marketplace with the intention that this would result in a more efficient allocation of resources. Harris comes to a similar conclusion arguing that, it was the implementation of the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) which was responsible for the change in the way in which Social Services Departments operated and thereby inadvertently the way in which social work practice took place (Harris, 2003 p.43).

Please note: The above dissertation snippet was written by a student and then submitted to us to display and help others. Thanks to all the students who have submitted their work to us.