1. Barriers to access and participation Overview of the module
Session 10

2. So what is social exclusion?
You need to show your understanding of what this means?
“Social exclusion has been defined as chronic, multidimensional disadvantage resulting in a catastrophic detachment from society” (Axford 2010 p.738)
Policy is underpinned by how social exclusion is defined?
“Social exclusion is a consequence of individual habits and personality…social exclusion is the individual’s responsibility. But others would argue that many of the forces of exclusion lie outside the individual’s capacity to act” (Pierson 2009 p.5)

3. Impact of social exclusion
“Individual children whose social ties are ruptured or weakened often suffer as a result; for example, the links between educational difficulties, poor health, relationship breakdown and anti-social behaviour are well established” (Axford 2010 p.739).
Impact of social exclusion

4. Key Theories
Bourdieu (1977) - Concept of habitus – ‘cycle of deprivation’; Cultural capital of individuals and Structural inequalities, low aspirations
Beck (1992)- makes sense of society on the assumption that people act as independent and free individuals, exercising rational choice
Murray (1999) - the moral underclass discourse focuses on deficiencies in people’s values and behaviour and they are perceived as criminally inclined and sexually irresponsible.

5. Cycle of deprivation

6. Social Policy
In terms of social exclusion policy is often based around different political ideas
Policy is formulated because of the threat of people causing disruption to social cohesion and mainstream society?
Or from the need to ensure social justice, and a concern for the poverty and disadvantage that people suffer in the midst of a wealthy society

7. Troubled families
Recent renewed focus on a very small minority of so-called ‘families at risk’
“The construction of families in policy discourse plays a crucial role in defining the way in which practitioners are encouraged to act in terms of practical decision making” (Brotherton et al p.43
“The purpose of policy then is to seek to impose overall benefit to the majority by seeking to ensure a high standard of parenting through the identification of and support and control of those parents who are not able to bring up children in a way that enables them to thrive and ultimately become responsible adults, citizens and future parents” (Brotherton p.43-44)

8. Integrated working DfE (2012) joining up local services
dealing with each family’s problems as a whole rather than responding to each problem, or person, separately
appointing a single key worker to get to grips with the family’s problems and work intensively with them to change their lives for the better for the long term
“Family intervention workers are dedicated to the families and provide an antidote to the fragmented activity from many different agencies that usually surrounds a troubled family” (Department for Communities and Local Government 2012 p.16)

9. Integrated working
Troubled families often have a whole host of agencies involved with them, often focussing on the individuals within that family, which can bring its own problems as families become confused by overlapping professionals, assessments and appointments. This costly and unfocussed activity can mask the lack of progress for that family (Department for Communities and Local Government 2012 p.9)
“This work requires a single dedicated worker to walk in the shoes of these families every day. To look at the family from the inside out, to understand its dynamics as a whole, and to offer practical help and support – but also to be the person to authoritatively challenge that family to change” (Casey 2012 in Department for Communities and Local Government 2012 p.4)

10. Barriers Austerity and cuts to funding
“As the axe falls on a range of public services that includes a broad range of child welfare services, there is a worrying silence about family support in a broad sense and the consequences of inequality for families and their ability to care” (Featherstone 2012 p.629).
“Osborne’s public-spending cuts will hit hard those with the least to give and finds legitimation through appealing to an increasingly self-conscious and self-righteous majority who ‘give without getting’” (Featherstone 2012 p.630)

11. Barriers
“Working with parents requires us to acknowledge explicitly elements of difference, power and control” (Brotherton et al p.46)
Research by Fernandez (2007 p.13870) highlighted that “many parents had a sense of being “under siege”, of constantly being under scrutiny as parents and ‘hassled’ by agencies”.

12. Barriers
“Some families were conscious of the socio economic disparity between caseworkers and themselves. There is a sense that some caseworkers don't ‘get’ the hardship parents are facing because they are so removed from their own experience. For those families who experience a sense of failure with their parenting skills there is also a feeling of not being able to live up to the expectations of workers and of social agencies more generally” (Fernandez 2007 p.1388

13. Barriers
“Organisational time frames between planning and review now count more for families, given agency requirements to document service outcomes. For families, this may set an unrealistic pace for change, given the combination of difficulties that bring vulnerable families to the door of statutory services” (Featherstone 2012 p.624)

14. Barriers
“Services can sometimes contribute to social exclusion, such as by stigmatizing recipients” (Axford 2010 p.748)
“In a context of rising inequalities, the corrosion of trust and the internalisation of shame and social inferiority are of particular concern not only in terms of consequences for the wider social fabric, but also in terms of how such features get played out in everyday practice encounters” (Featherstone 2012 p. 631)

15. Barriers
Axford (2010) refers to a post-code lottery of services where families can be zoned out of services
“There were a number of cases identified where relationship tension between the parent and worker was evident and appeared to have a detrimental impact on the success of the service. In one case, the relationship was such that the user avoided appointments and only paid lip service to the worker’s advice. These features resemble those of disguised compliance” (Sanders and Roach 2007 p.167)

16. Recap on assignment
In small groups think about how you are going to approach writing your assignment;
What is social exclusion?
Discuss the impact of social exclusion on children, young people and families
Using the context of your chosen group identify current social policy, what ideology is it underpinned by? and the rationale for the development of integrated services
Identify possible barriers to access and participation
Reflect on the findings from your research

17. References
Pierson, J. (2009) Tackling Social Exclusion Oxon: Routledge
Welshman, J. (2002), 'The cycle of deprivation and the concept of the underclass.' Benefits: Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, Vol. 10, no. 3, (pp )