New Labour's Approach to the Voluntary Sector: Independence and the Meaning of Partnership

2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
New Labour ◽  
Partnership Approach ◽  
Voluntary Organisations

A major problem for voluntary organisations service providers under contract has been their independence in regard to both the relatively narrow issue of the terms and conditions of service provision, and the broader issue about the part voluntary organisations might play in policy shaping and democratic renewal. I examine the way in which New Labour has developed its ‘partnership’ approach to the voluntary sector since 1998. I argue that better terms and conditions have been secured for voluntary organisations providing services, and that large and umbrella organisations now have more impact on the implementation of central government policy. However, the more equal partnership required for a policy-shaping role in the sense of agenda-setting is likely to remain elusive, while at the local level there are tensions between the idea of voluntary organisations as agents of ‘civil renewal’ and as service providers.

The changing policy environment for voluntary action from 1979

2018 ◽  
pp. 19-38
Author(s):  
Rose Lindsey ◽  
John Mohan ◽  
Sarah Bulloch ◽  
Elizabeth Metcalfe
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Voluntary Action ◽  
Policy Environment ◽  
Strong Continuity ◽  
Policy Deliberation ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Voluntary Organisations

This chapter analyses post-1979 changes in the British political and policy environment for volunteering and voluntary action. It distinguishes between government policy measures targeted at voluntary action by individuals, proposals to encourage the development of voluntary organisations, and the government’s institutionalisation of the voluntary sector by bringing the sector into public policy deliberation. The chapter demonstrates variations in the underlying motivations for government policy, showing how different government administrations have sought to solve certain problems through voluntary action. The chapter draws primarily upon public sources, but also upon archival records of central government deliberations. There has been strong continuity between governments, but there have also been significant differences in the emphasis these have placed on particular elements of policy. All post-1979 governments have supported voluntary action by individuals, at least rhetorically. This chapter identifies differences, however, in relation to how these various governments sought to promote voluntary action; and in how they engaged with voluntary organisations in supporting public policy.

Self Help, Not Self Pity': Caring for People with Diabetes in a Voluntary Organisation

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Elica Ristevski ◽  
Heather Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Voluntary Organisation ◽  
Self Help ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Voluntary Organisations

The importance of the voluntary sector in providing services for people with a chronic illness has been increasingly recognised. A consumer organisation in the voluntary sector, which provides services for people with diabetes, was selected to explore the role of voluntary organisations in service provision. The investigation revealed that voluntary organisations provide support services such as information and education, advocacy, health promotion, the encouragement of research, social activities, and aids and appliances. These services focus on the individual, social, financial and economic needs of people with diabetes and fill the gaps in programs provided by public sector organisations, which are largely targeted toward acute care, are less flexible, and increasingly concerned with cost efficiency. With the shift towards decentralising services to the community and the increased participation of consumers in health care, the work of voluntary organisations will become even more indispensable in Australia.

From Centralized to Local Alcohol Policy? Administrative Decentralization and the Role of Local Municipalities in Finnish Alcohol Policy

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
Sanna Sairanen ◽  
Pekka Sulkunen
Keyword(s):  
Central Government ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Welfare Policy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Alcohol Control ◽  
Local Municipalities ◽  
The Government

The main concern in the article is with the question of how far the administration of welfare policy in general and alcohol policy in particular has been decentralized from central government to the local level. The period under review extends from the abrogation of the Prohibition Act in 1932 up to the present day. For the part of alcohol policy, the development is measured on the basis of the changes that have taken place in alcohol legislation, specifically with regard to alcohol control and licensing. Separate treatment is given to municipal alcohol inspection and alcohol and temperance committees. The latitude of local self-government in welfare policy issues is described by reference to the government grant system. The resources allocated by central government to local municipalities may be earmarked for specific projects, or alternatively be granted for allocation according to the local municipality's own discretion. The article also introduces a case study on the alcohol policy decision-makers in a Finnish municipality in 1991–1994. Local municipalities have greater autonomy today in the implementation and funding of welfare services than they did during the formative years of the welfare state. It is possible that in the future Finnish municipalities will become increasingly differentiated in terms of both the quality and quantity of services. However, local municipalities still remain first and foremost service providers; it seems that they have not even wanted to assume responsibility for the advocacy and protection of moral-political democracy. The same applies to alcohol policy. For the most part, local municipalities have tried to shed their responsibilities and reduce their influence in alcohol policy decision-making. During the 1990s municipalities have no longer wanted to assume responsibility for alcohol control or for the processing of licensing and retail sales permits. The article concludes that local municipalities consider the lack of services a greater problem than the social or health problems associated with alcohol.

Measuring the effectiveness of multi-sector approaches to service provision

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
K. Caplan ◽  
D. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Business Partners ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The World ◽  
Successful Approach ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Partnership Approach

Sustainable development is a global imperative, and strategic partnerships involving business, government and civil society may present a successful approach for the development of communities around the world. Business Partners for Development (BPD) is an informal network of partners that seeks to demonstrate that partnerships among these three sectors can achieve more at the local level than any of the groups acting individually. The Water and Sanitation Cluster of the BPD has been working with eight partnership projects around the world to determine the efficacy of the partnership approach in providing water and sanitation to the poor. Measuring the effectiveness of these partnerships, however, proves challenging. Different interested and affected groups will measure the success of the initiative along different sets of criteria. Partnership elicits qualitative values such as trust, responsiveness and flexibility that are more likely to be “measured” by gut reactions rather than by more mechanical means. However, the creation and maintenance of a carefully selected set of indicators for a specific partnership project should enhance relations by increasing clarity and building stronger communication channels. The paper below provides considerations for the creation of partnership indicators.

Joined-Up Government for Local and Regional Institutions

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry Stoker
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Community Leadership ◽  
Regional Governance ◽  
New Labour ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Regional Institutions ◽  
Policy Style ◽  
The Government

Joined-up government seems to be able to present itself in various forms of being understood in several ways. It is therefore subject to various interpretations and divergent views. Some contend that joined-up government is inherently centralizing hence it is disadvantageous for the devolved units of the government, some on the other hand argue that joined-up government is not essentially centralizing. This chapter evaluates New Labour's initial efforts at stimulating joining-up at the local level by detailing the rise of the multitude partnership bodies since New Labour rose into power. The chapter also discusses the top-down-driven policy style that New Labour adopted in their efforts for partnerships. This style caused chaotic repercussions in the local and regional governance. Discussed as well in the chapter are the ways in which New Labour tried to localize joined-up government. The first method was the premise of adopting autonomy for the local government to pursue community leadership at the local level while the second method proposed earned autonomy or constrained discretion wherein the local government can lead and yet be under the guidance of the central government. Both of these models of governance are considered here to determine whether they can be institutionalized. The last section of the chapter presents a discussion on the seemingly centralizing nature of joined-up government.

scholarly journals The Dangers of Fiscal Decentralization and Public Service Delivery: a Review of Arguments

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helge Arends
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Local Context ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Service Provision

Abstract The prevailing belief is that local governments, which are closer to their citizens, can deliver public goods much more efficiently than a central government can. Yet skeptics argue that fiscal decentralization can be dangerous. The underlying motivation of this article is to review the basic rationale behind decentralizing public services from the perspective of three main controversies emerging from the literature on decentralization: (in)efficient, (un)equal, and (un)accountable service provision at the local level. For illustrative purposes, this review focuses on two complex and socially important sectors, health and education. The overall conclusion is that the dangers of decentralization are highly relevant to local public service provision, although there is evidence supporting both the decentralization-enthusiastic and the decentralization-skeptical views. When decentralizing public services, reformers should know the specificities of the public service, the local context, and the effects of the design of fiscal relations like the backs of their hands. If things go wrong, recentralization should be an option.

scholarly journals Membangun Reformasi Birokrasi Berkinerja Dalam Mewujudkan Good Governance Di Kabupaten Gorontalo

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Suaib Napir
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Standard Operating Procedure ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Standard Operating ◽  
Government Organisation ◽  
The Right

This study aims to analyze, identify and describe strengthening Local Government Organisation Gorontalo District; Methods: Using qualitative research, data collection techniques; observation, interviews and documents. data analysis interactive model of Miles, Hubermen and Saldana (2014). The results showed that: Strengthening the organization, which includes; 1) the incentive has been running with a performance-based; 2) utilization of personnel not comply pd principle the right man on the right pleace; 3) leadership is more motivation in improving individual and organizational performance; 4) organizational culture refers to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that have been standard; 5) communication has been running well, but need to increase understanding of the message to avoid mis communication between SKPD; 6) organizational structure has been carried out by the organization's needs but still dependent on central government policy to discretionary policies at local level walk less than the maximum.

Concept of Power Decentralization in Political Science and Approaches to its Methodological Study

2017 ◽  
pp. 229-235
Author(s):  
Halyna Kuzub
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Moral Education ◽  
Symbolic Interactionism ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Perfect State ◽  
Political Ideas ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Structural Functionalism

The problem of power decentralization is up to date in a modern political science. We can trace its historical genesis first in European and further in the USA political ideas. Decentralization of power was considered along with the study of a perfect state system, civil society and local self-government. It is argued that the major part of successful process of power decentralization in the Western Europe was due to the idea nature for their political culture. The article attempts to retrace the history of the idea of power decentralization. As a background of the investigations of such thinkers as J. Bodin, J. Althusius, J. Locke, J.-J. Rousseau, C.-L. Montesquieu, R. Owen, C. Fourier, J. S.Mill, T. Jefferson, A. de Tocqueville and M. Dragomanov were thoroughly investigated. The paper also considers the modern definitions of power decentralization. Likewise the value of structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism and constructivism are argued in terms of further surveys of power decentralization. To conclude, the author opines that civil servants training, their theoretical teaching and moral education have to become the main objectives in perspective investigations. Furthermore, the success of power decentralization depends not only on devoting authority by central government, but also on capacity of its implementation by deputies on the local level. Keywords: Decentralization of power, deconcentration of power, administrative and political decentralization, classical and non-classical philosophy, structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, construc-tivism

Change in Service Provision Networks: The Case of Animal Welfare Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 0160323X2110092
Author(s):  
Laura A. Reese ◽  
Xiaomeng Li
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Network Evolution ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Organizational Ties ◽  
The Impact

This research focuses on change within informal service provision networks, specifically examining the impact that changes within a key organization can have on the larger network. Employing a before and after survey design with a treatment at the midpoint and participant observation, it asks: What is the impact of a major change within one organization on the larger external network? What is the nature of the organizational ties? and, How do political factors exogenous to the network impact the network evolution process? The findings suggest that internal change within a focal actor can have ripple effects throughout the network increasing density. Public service provision at the local level can be enhanced through an increase in partnerships between the public and nonprofit sectors. However, network evolution can be limited by the larger political environment and lack of a coordinating role on the part of local government.

scholarly journals Service providers’ use of harm reduction approaches in working with older adults experiencing abuse: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Goodridge ◽  
Kerstin Stieber Roger ◽  
Christine A. Walsh ◽  
Elliot PausJenssen ◽  
Marina Cewick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Risk Environment ◽  
Intervention Process ◽  
Process Enactment ◽  
Humanistic Approach

Abstract Background Although abuse experienced by older adults is common and expected to increase, disclosure, reporting and interventions to prevent or mitigate abuse remain sub-optimal. Incorporating principles of harm reduction into service provision has been advocated as a strategy that may improve outcomes for this population. This paper explores whether and how these principles of harm reduction were employed by professionals who provide services to older adults experiencing abuse. Methods Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 23 professionals providing services to older adults experiencing abuse across three Western provinces of Canada was conducted. Key principles of harm reduction (humanism, incrementalism, individualism, pragmatism, autonomy, and accountability without termination) were used as a framework for organizing the themes. Results Our analysis illustrated a clear congruence between each of the six harm reduction principles and the approaches reflected in the narratives of professionals who provided services to this population, although these were not explicitly articulated as harm reduction by participants. Each of the harm reduction principles was evident in service providers’ description of their professional practice with abused older adults, although some principles were emphasized differentially at different phases of the disclosure and intervention process. Enactment of a humanistic approach formed the basis of the therapeutic client-provider relationships with abused older adults, with incremental, individual, and pragmatic principles also apparent in the discourse of participants. While respect for the older adult’s autonomy figured prominently in the data, concerns about the welfare of the older adults with questionable capacity were expressed when they did not engage with services or chose to return to a high-risk environment. Accountability without termination of the client-provider relationship was reflected in continuation of support regardless of the decisions made by the older adult experiencing abuse. Conclusions Harm reduction approaches are evident in service providers’ accounts of working with older adults experiencing abuse. While further refinement of the operational definitions of harm reduction principles specific to their application with older adults is still required, this harm reduction framework aligns well with both the ethical imperatives and the practical realities of supporting older adults experiencing abuse.

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