Social welfare administration

Principles of Social Welfare Administration

1. Social welfare administration -Social Policy

2. INTRODUCTION Social welfare administration may be specifically defined as the process of formulation and implementation of policies related to promotion of well-being of weaker and vulnerable sections of the society

3. Harleigh B. Trecker (1971) interprets social welfare administration as a “process of working with people in ways that release and relate their energies so that they use all available resources to accomplish the purpose of providing needed community services and programmes.”

4. Nature Social Welfare Administration as an Art It can be acquired It is subjective in nature Practical application of knowledge Social Welfare Administration as a Science Application of Scientific Method Critical Examination Universal Guidelines

5. Need

6. It is increasingly realised that social welfare programmes require qualified and trained social welfare personnel to perform social welfare functions efficiently. So it is argued that for serving the people effectively it is necessary to professionalise, as professionalisation can increase the ability of social welfare personnel to solve the pressing social problems confronting our society.

7. Objectives To make the social policy to reach the disadvantaged section. To develop the man and environment. To balance the distribution of resources and facilities. To mitigate social problems. Empowerment of the weaker sections. Social change. Overall welfare of the society.

8. To translate social mandates into operational policies and goals that guide organisational behaviour. To design organisational structures and processes through which social welfare goals can be achieved. To secure resources in the form of material staff necessary for goal achievement. To bring increased efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of social welfare services

9. Scope The POSDCoRB view The Integral view. The POSDCoRB View of Social Welfare Administration This is a narrow view of social welfare administration and takes into account mostly the execution of the government’s sponsored programmes. In other words this view corresponds with the managerial view. Henri Fayol , L. Urwick , Fercey M. Ovean and Luther Gulick are advocates of this view.

10. The Integral View of Social Welfare Administration Social welfare is concerned with - Social Problems : Assessment of its causes, prevention and treatment through public participation and effective implementation of social legislation. Social Services : Social services are meant for general public through provision of health, education, housing etc. and make them more effective for the upliftment of disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society.

11. Social Security : To make and implement effective social assistance and social insurance provisions. It aims to compensate for the loss of income due to unemployment, disability or death caused by accident and old age through social insurance and social assistance. Social Policy : To make effective social policy for the welfare of underprivileged sections of the society, to achieve the goals of welfare state through social action

12. DIFFERENCE IN ORIENTATION OF ADMINISTARTION AND MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT 1 Mainly concerned with performing assigned duties 1 Mainly concerned with getting results 2 Stress on what should be done, what ought to be done and what must be done 2 Stress on what is to be done and how it is to be done 3 More emphasis on formulation of sound ‘policies’ and their translation into practice 3 Greater emphasis on attainment of objectives keeping in view the goals and mission of the organisation 4 Maintenance of status quo is the ultimate goal 4 Change, growth, expansion and development are the ultimate goals 5 Greater emphasis on ‘personal effectiveness’ 5 Greater stress on ‘Organisational effectiveness’

13. Principles Principle of being in service Principle of co-ordination Principle of progressive adjustment Principle of putting social policy into practice Transformation of social policy into welfare policy Principle of adaptation to local problems

14. 7. Principle of mutually reinforcing relationships. 8. Principle of democratic decentralisation 9. Principle of communication 10. Principle of sensitivity

15. Principle of being in service It is essential that social/welfare services should be directly provided to clients without any middlemen between the service providers and beneficiaries, and without any expectations in cash/kind/service from beneficiaries

16. Principle of co-ordination It is considered essential that if all kinds of services in a particular area are provided through one organisation with single window, the work of administration will be easier

17. Principle of progressive adjustment Services to be effective have to be changed with the needs of client. This, therefore, is duty of administrator to introduce innovations in services.

18. Principle of putting social policy into practice It is the duty of social welfare administrator to implement social policies and observe procedures strictly and tactfully

19. Transformation of social policy into welfare policy This is the duty of social welfare administrator to keep the welfare of weak, and vulnerable sections at the top and mould the social policy to suit the interests of these sections

20. Principle of adaptation to local problems It is essential to change predetermined programmes according to local needs.

21. Principle of mutually reinforcing relations For the success of any social welfare programme it is necessary that there should be mutual trust and confidence, friendship and closeness between administration and clients towards each other.

22. Principle of democratic decentralisation A social welfare administrator believes that the work relating to public should be done by public through its representatives.

23. Principle of communication Communication between administration and clients should be done in the language and style easily understood by the latter

24. Principle of sensitivity A social welfare administrator should, therefore, also be sensitive to the pains and sufferings of others and should try to share them on the basis of empathy