Social welfare

How small independent countries create a better, more equal society

Stephen Richard — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:25:05 +0000

How small independent countries create a better, more equal society

Primary Author or Creator

Believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard Fri, 11/05/2021 - 12:25

Alternative Published Date

2021

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Article

Fast Facts

It has become clear that small, independent countries largely outperform the UK and offer greater security to their citizens. This includes pensions, income distribution and public social spending.

More details

State pension

As we have already shown, the state pension is a gloomy aspect of the UK’s welfare system. So, how much exactly does the UK offer to old age pensioners?

The UK former state pension consisted of two tiers – the basic state pension (£137.60 a week) and an earnings-related additional state pension. The new state pension provides a flat-rate pension worth up to £179.60 a week.

The figures highlight that small, independent countries offer a much greater state pension (including full entitlement) than the much larger UK. Therefore, it’s more likely that an independent Scotland would follow a similar path as its European neighbours. Indeed, the SNP has said that an independent Scotland would work to increase the Scottish state pension to match the EU average, effectively doubling it.

Net pension replacement rate

The net pension replacement rate is another interesting way of analysing and comparing the state pension schemes across various countries.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines net pension replacement rate as “the individual net pension entitlement divided by net pre-retirement earnings, taking into account personal income taxes and social security contributions paid by workers and pensioners.”

The net pension replacement rate measures how effectively a pension system provides a retirement income to replace earnings as the main source of income before retirement.

The data demonstrates that the UK’s net pension replacement rate is significantly worse than several of the small independent countries across Europe. In fact, the only country that offers a state pension that constitutes a lower percentage of pre-retirement earnings is South Africa.

Public social spending

Public social spending is another important factor that should be considered when analysing the effectiveness of a country’s social support system. Public social spending includes health, old age, incapacity-related benefits, family, unemployment and housing, among other things.

The figures highlight that, with the exception of Ireland in this case, Scotland’s Northern European neighbours with a similar population size outperform the UK in terms of public social spending. Indeed, both Norway and Denmark spend a significantly great share of the country’s GDP on public social services than the UK.

Income distribution

The OECD provides an Income Distribution database that monitors the performances of countries in the field of income inequality and poverty. This is measured using the Gini coefficient, which is based on the comparison of cumulative proportions of the population against cumulative proportions of income they receive (ranging from 0, in the case of perfect equality, and 1, in the case of perfect inequality). Therefore, with reference to the OECD’s database, we have compared the case study countries of this article.

The data, again, shows several small independent countries across Europe outperforming the UK. Indeed, Ireland, Norway and Denmark all provide greater income equality than the UK.

By analysing these various social support factors, it has become clear that small, independent countries largely outperform the UK and offer greater security to their citizens

Conclusions

This article has drawn upon data from various countries across Europe, including the UK, Ireland, Norway and Denmark. By analysing these various social support factors, it has become clear that small, independent countries largely outperform the UK and offer greater security to their citizens. This includes pensions, income distribution and public social spending. Overall, it can be suggested that an independent Scotland would behave similarly to these small European countries and the Scottish Government has already set out various goals for an independent Scotland to prioritise social wellbeing factors and match European targets.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.believeinscotland.org/how-small-independent-countries-create-a-bett…

Keywords

social welfare

Income distribution

Public spending

Language English

How small independent countries create a better, more equal society

Stephen Richard — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 18:21:38 +0000

How small independent countries create a better, more equal society

Primary Author or Creator

Believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard Thu, 11/04/2021 - 18:21

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Article

Fast Facts

It has become clear that small, independent countries largely outperform the UK and offer greater security to their citizens.

More details

State pension

As we have already shown, the state pension is a gloomy aspect of the UK’s welfare system. So, how much exactly does the UK offer to old age pensioners?

A recent Believe in Scotland billboard highlighting the UK’s poor state pension

Let’s see how this compares to other countries.

Flat-rate state pensions in countries across Northern Europe: a comparison of full entitlement

Country Basic Pension As a % of UK new state pension

UK Up to £179.60 100%

Ireland £212.08 118%

Norway (basic rate) £162.66 91%

Norway (minimu) £330.38 184%

Denmark (basic rate)£172.27 96%

Denmark (with additional supplement)£366.14 204%

Small, independent countries offer a much greater state pension than the much larger UK

These figures highlight that small, independent countries offer a much greater state pension (including full entitlement) than the much larger UK. Therefore, it’s more likely that an independent Scotland would follow a similar path as its European neighbours. Indeed, the SNP has said that an independent Scotland would work to increase the Scottish state pension to match the EU average, effectively doubling it.

Net pension replacement rate

The net pension replacement rate is another interesting way of analysing and comparing the state pension schemes across various countries.

The net pension replacement rate measures how effectively a pension system provides a retirement income to replace earnings as the main source of income before retirement.

Country Net pension replacement rate (% of pre-retirement earnings)

UK 28.4

Ireland 35.9

Norway 51.6

Denmark 70.9

This table demonstrates that the UK’s net pension replacement rate is significantly worse than several of the small independent countries across Europe. In fact, the only country that offers a state pension that constitutes a lower percentage of pre-retirement earnings is South Africa.

Public social spending

Country Public social spending (% of GDP)

UK 20.6

Ireland 13.4

Norway 25.3

Denmark 28.3

These figures highlight that, with the exception of Ireland in this case, Scotland’s Northern European neighbours with a similar population size outperform the UK in terms of public social spending. Indeed, both Norway and Denmark spend a significantly great share of the country’s GDP on public social services than the UK.

Income distribution

Lastly, this article will consider the distribution of income – another important aspect of ensuring an equal and well-supported society.

Country Income distribution

UK 0.366

Ireland 0.295

Norway 0.262

Denmark 0.264

This data, again, shows several small independent countries across Europe outperforming the UK. Indeed, Ireland, Norway and Denmark all provide greater income equality than the UK.

By analysing these various social support factors, it has become clear that small, independent countries largely outperform the UK and offer greater security to their citizens

Conclusions

Keywords

Pensions

Public expenditure

Income distribution

Language English

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE

Stephen Richard — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 17:58:01 +0000

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE SOCIAL CARE WORKFORCE

Primary Author or Creator

Kathy Jenkins

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/10/2021 - 18:58

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Date Published

Sun, 10/03/2021 - 12:00

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

11pp

Fast Facts

― There is a well-understood set of criteria which are viewed as being key to the health, safety and welfare of care workers.

― During the Covid crisis there is well-documented evidence of how poorly these criteria were properly ensured for care staff in Scotland.

― There is an internationally defined and accepted hierarchy of actions to ensuring that staff health, safety and welfare is properly protected and this must underpin our approaches in future.

― As well as these there are fundamental issues which must be addressed: pay, job security, training, work load and patterns, and the ability for staff to have a degree of control over their work and of influence on how care is provided.

― These can only be properly addressed by ensuring that staff have the ability to have their voice heard through collective bargaining and unionisation.

Resource Address (URL)

https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Health-and-Safety-Social-Car…

Keywords

Social care

Health and safety of workers

Language English

Contesting the austerity and “welfare reform” narrative of the UK Government: Forging a social democratic imaginary in Scotland

Stephen Richard — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 09:36:16 +0000

Contesting the austerity and “welfare reform” narrative of the UK Government: Forging a social democratic imaginary in Scotland

Primary Author or Creator

Jay Wiggan

Stephen Richard Wed, 10/06/2021 - 10:36

Category

Economy

Social welfare

Fast Facts

The Scottish government fuses nationalism with social wage and social investment concepts. It conjures up images of a prosperous, community led, egalitarian welfare state as a future reality. It recuperates “welfare” as a collective endeavour. It describes austerity as a poor distribution of resources between groups and within the UK as the “problem”.

More details

Purpose

The “welfare reform” narrative of successive Conservative-led UK Government emphasises public spending reductions, individual responsibility and strengthening of benefit conditionality. The purpose of this paper is to cast light on how this narrative is challenged and disrupted by the Scottish Government through their articulation of a social democratic welfare state imaginary.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws together a decentred governance perspective that emphasises ideational tradition for understanding (re)construction of governance (Bevir, 2013, p. 27) with critical discourse analysis to examine how welfare interpretations/representations are carried into the policy and public arena. The Scottish Government documents are deconstructed to interrogate the ideas and form of their emergent discourse and its relation to the independence referendum and welfare governance reform.

Findings

Responding to changing socio-economic contexts and welfare governance, the Scottish Government has developed a discourse of modernisation rooted in British and Scandinavian social democratic traditions. Fusing (civic) nationalism with social wage and social investment concepts, they conjure up imaginaries of a prosperous, solidaristic, egalitarian welfare state as a feasible future reality, recuperating “welfare” as a collective endeavour and positioning a maldistribution of power/resources between groups and constituent countries of the UK as the “problem”.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to those interested in how changes to centralised-hierarchical welfare governance can open new spaces for actors at different levels of government to articulate counter-hegemonic discourses and practices. Its originality lies in the analysis of how the Scottish Government has reworked social democratic traditions to weave together a welfare imaginary that directly contests the problem-solution narrative of successive Conservative-led UK Governments.

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

paywall

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSSP-04-2016-0050/full/html

Keywords

Austerity

Democracy

social welfare

Language English

Believe in Scotland’s Manifesto for Wellbeing. Open Minds on Independence #7

Stephen Richard — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:23:51 +0000

Believe in Scotland’s Manifesto for Wellbeing. Open Minds on Independence #7

Primary Author or Creator

The National

Stephen Richard Thu, 09/23/2021 - 09:23

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Believe in Scotland

Date Published

Fri, 03/05/2021 - 12:00

Category

Health

Social welfare

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

Have a read and ask yourself: wouldn’t you like to live in a country with a social/economic/environmental policy framework based on this set of values? Wouldn’t you like to be able to vote to create such a nation?

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19140766.open-minds-independence-7-believe-sc…

Keywords

Welbeing

Language English

Caring about Children. Common Weal Policy Podcast, episode 99

Stephen Richard — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 11:25:47 +0000

Caring about Children. Common Weal Policy Podcast, episode 99

Primary Author or Creator

Marion Macleod

Stephen Richard Tue, 09/14/2021 - 12:25

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Date Published

Wed, 09/08/2021 - 12:00

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Podcast

Fast Facts

his week, Craig is joined by Marion Macleod – an expert in social care and education for children and author of Common Weal’s latest policy paper on a strategic plan for childcare. They discuss the current patchwork state of child and early years care in Scotland, how the latest Programme for Government perpetuates that even if the policies themselves may be valuable and how things could be greatly improved by a strategic and holistic plan for care sitting within a National Care Service.

Podcast 32:40 minutes

Resource Address (URL)

https://commonweal.scot/podcast/the-common-weal-policy-podcast-episode-99/

Language English

What can the Scottish Parliament do with new social security powers?

Stephen Richard — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:07:24 +0000

What can the Scottish Parliament do with new social security powers?

Primary Author or Creator

Paul Spicker

Stephen Richard Tue, 09/14/2021 - 09:07

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Alternative Published Date

February 2016

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Assessment report

Fast Facts

An analsys of the d devolution of social security powers to the Scottish Parliament in the Scotland Bill. Whilst the reforms have been represented as giving Scotland “one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.” it is debatable that this is the case. In any federal system, powers lie by default with the states, not with central government. It is open to the states (and sometimes to local governments) to experiment and to innovate. Scotland will not be able to do this.

More details

― The powers transferred to the Scottish Government, whilst valued by those affected by them, are marginal in the overall context of social security in Scotland.

― The administrative infrastructure to delivery many of the devolved benefits is complex, not just in terms of transferring power from Westminster to Scotland but also in determining the relative roles of the Scottish Government and Local Councils in delivery.

― Significant problems may arise where devolved benefits interact with reserved benefits – an increase in the former may offset by a decrease in the latter.

― There is scope for Scotland to significantly improve current benefits using these powers such as by topping up benefits like Carers’ Allowance, Child Benefit or Housing Benefit.

― Some benefits may be improved not by increasing the level of benefit but by broadening provision. Making benefits such as school meals universal rather than means tested will increase uptake and reduce the stigma of claiming them.

― Consideration should be given to using these powers to “top up” or otherwise improve the State Pension.

Resource Address (URL)

https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/What-can-the-Scottish-Parlia…

Keywords

Language English

Empty Promise?

Stephen Richard — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 20:59:24 +0000

Empty Promise?

Primary Author or Creator

Marion Macleod

Stephen Richard Sun, 09/12/2021 - 21:59

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Date Published

Thu, 08/05/2021 - 12:00

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Fast Facts

The Promise is the key driver of the Scottish Government’s policy in relation to family support and out-of-home care for children. It is largely based on information drawn from the views and opinions of people who have experience of care – but research data and other empirical evidence has being given lesser prominence in creating policies.

This has led to an emphasis on responding to whichever issues arise from those expressing views rather than developing strategies based on the overall political, economic and social context in which problems arise.

The key role of public services in bringing about the extent of change needed should be strongly emphasised and the critical contribution that the social work profession can and does make should receive greater priority. In addition, the application of research knowledge and sustained commitment to workforce development are critical components of an effective approach.

Instead the strategy often feels like it is based on responding to subjective feelings with value-based language. That this work is disconnected from the work on a National Care Service makes little sense – a National Care Service could be pivotal in providing holistic and integrated support to children and their families.

More details

― Many of the actions the Scottish Government proposes through The Promise are somewhat peripheral in terms of achieving major systemic change. In contrast, some fundamental problems are barely, or only superficially, referenced.

― A childhood compromised by severe and sustained adversity, or by persistent disruption and unsettlement, is likely to reduce the chances of positive and optimistic life outcomes in adulthood.

― The separation of social work with children from support for adults adds another unnecessary layer of complexity and results in families receiving services in an inconsistent, fragmented and uncoordinated way.

― The changing pattern of out-of-home care also should be recognised. More and more children are being cared for within their extended families. Kinship carers should receive adequate financial assistance but should also have access to the information, advice and support that enables them to give the best possible care.

― The Promise may have worthy intentions but it offers few imaginative or sufficiently far-reaching ideas to achieve the fundamental realignment to which it aspires.

― A road map without a clear direction of travel, that underestimates the distance to be travelled and that overlooks obstacles to be overcome along the route is, unfortunately, likely to lead to the wrong destination.

Resource Address (URL)

https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Empty-Promise.pdf

Keywords

Child care

Children

Social work

National Care Service

Language English

Child Care or Caring About Children?

Stephen Richard — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 06:40:12 +0000

Child Care or Caring About Children?

Primary Author or Creator

Marion Macleod

Stephen Richard Mon, 09/06/2021 - 07:40

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Date Published

Sun, 09/05/2021 - 12:00

Category

Social welfare

Women

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Fast Facts

Few in politics and in government now dispute the central importance of getting support for children in their early years right if we want to create a wellbeing economy with healthy and productive citizens in the future. But, in reality, Scotland has a system of support for children in their early years which is a patchwork of initiatives, fixes, legacy services and omissions. What we do not have is a single, well thought- through integrated service. This is what Scotland’s children need. This report will highlight the problems in the system as it is and propose how they can be fixed and a comprehensive, integrated system introduced as part of a comprehensive, all-ages National Care Service.

More details

Get the policy context right

― Children’s right to a good start in life should be at the heart of policy with clear and specific entitlements reflecting the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

― Optimal child health and development should be the clear purpose of early years service provision – getting parents back to work is secondary

― Integrate governance and delivery of all early years provision from a single department or body at national level holding overall responsibility to holistic centres in all communities through local authorities

― Adapt the European social pedagogy degree for Scotland and incorporate its principles into work with young children and their families

― Upskill the entire early years workforce to degree-level qualification as there is a strong correlation between staff skill and children’s outcomes

― Emphasise secure attachment to primary care giver as central to everything the service does

― Introduce parenting and child development as a part of social education in all schools.

Ante-natal

― Invest in preconception health, education, counselling and care for all prospective parents

― Monitor family provision from first contact to make sure the home context is provided with the resources and support necessary to promote a child’s healthy development and learning

― Focus contact on relationship-building and trust not compliance and enforcement, with a single consistent point of contact throughout the early years

― Establish holistic and integrated family support centres in all communities, providing early education and care, child health advice and support, parent learning and opportunities for play and creativity

― Create residential support centres pre-birth for families with chaotic home lives, providing both stability, wellbeing support and training

― Focus on the rights of the child to a good and equitable early life experience and the role of parents as the primary protectors and safeguarders of these rights

― Ensure a generous parental leave option in both time and money

― Stress the importance of the father’s involvement and make that possible with equitable treatment.

Post-Natal

― Create an integrated system of financial social protection and high quality support services for parents and make sure this service means there are no essentials poor families cannot afford

― Services must be inclusive of all children with additional support needs of any kind

― Focus services on strengthening families so children are only taken into care as a last resort; investment in stabilising home life is more effective and sustainable

― Where taking a child into care is unavoidable minimise the disruption to that child, make the experience consistent and stable and work intensively to improve the home environment so the child can return quickly and successfully

Early Childhood

― All children and parents should have the right to early childhood education and care (ECEC), on up to a full-time basis, from the end of the period of parental leave entitlement, or earlier if family circumstances require this

― Both high quality family based care and group care should be provided; promoting attachment and resilience should be the foundation of any ECEC service and this in turn should provide the foundation for a new National Care Service

― Subsidise ECEC and make the cost to parents income related, with a maximum total cost for any family and free provision for those on the lowest incomes

― The public sector must be the primary provider and outsourcing must only happen where other providers can demonstrate the same quality and effectiveness (including future attainment, confidence, risk management, resilience, pro-social behaviour, cooperation and emotional health)

Kindergarden

― From age three, establish a kindergarten stage which emphasises play, creativity, exploration and social interaction, not formal attainment

― Children should remain in kindergarten until aged seven and commence formal education then; the school starting age should be changed to reflect this, in line with international evidence

Keywords

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Children

Child care

National Child Care Service

Language English

Two thousand deaths later, has infection control in care homes improved?

Stephen Richard — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 10:02:43 +0000

Two thousand deaths later, has infection control in care homes improved?

Primary Author or Creator

Nick Kempe

Stephen Richard Sat, 09/04/2021 - 11:02

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Common Weal

Date Published

Fri, 08/14/2020 - 12:00

Category

Social welfare

Type of Resource

Report

Fast Facts

Nick Kempe investigates the Care Inspectorate’s attempts to assess the ongoing response in Scottish care homes to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst some care homes have improved, Kempe raises serious concerns about the quality of data being gathered and the “slow and seemingly random way” in which care homes are being reassessed. He raises particular concern that five months on from the onset of the pandemic in Scotland, staff in care homes are still not being properly trained in infection control.

More details

― The Care Inspectorate (which is responsible for monitoring standards in care homes) is currently doing only about a third of its usual checks and at the current rate would take over two years to inspect all care homes to assess Covid control measures.

― This means there simply isn’t enough data to provide any confidence that, as a sector, care homes are doing any better than they were five months ago.

― There is no rationale presented by the Care Inspectorate for which care homes are being chosen, nor any reasonable explanation for why those care homes identified as having pre-existing infection prevention problems were not prioritised for inspection

― There should be a mandatory ban on discharge of people to any care home assessed as Weak.

― Of those previously graded Weak, ten have improved (three to the status of Good) but ten have not.

― Of those previously graded as Adequate, five have improved but seven have deteriorated (ten remained the same).

― The Care Inspectorate chose to inspect 17 care homes rated Good or Very Good, of which three are now downgraded to Weak and four to Adequate (the second lowest). Only four remained Good and one Very Good (with five no longer graded as a result of different methodology).

― More than one in seven care homes inspected have received a ‘letter of serious concern’ from the Care Inspectorate.

― In only one case has the Care Inspectorate used new Covid powers to issue an Improvement Notice with intent to close the care home.

Resource Address (URL)

https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Lessons-Learned.pdf

Keywords

Aged care

Care Inpectorate

Care homes

Language English