Social Welfare Services in Britain - Barnardo's - Case Study Example

Social welfare services – Barnardo’s Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Discussion 3 Welfare Context 3 Policy 5 Management Structure 6 Figure 7 Funding Arrangements 8 Conclusion 10 References 11 Introduction This study would be centred towards social welfare services and its impact on surrounding environment. In this study there shall be a thorough analysis on the impact of organizational arrangements and management-driven change on experience and delivery of social welfare services. Barnardo’s has been chosen as a social welfare organization that will be critically analyzed to identify their service delivery. Social welfare sector is a particular segment which aims towards developing a better society. There are different policies adopted by firms working in this sector. However the major focus is on eliminating any kind of societal issue and offering best solutions. Barnardo’s is a charitable organization of Britain and was founded in 1866 by Thomas Barnardo. The slogan of this firm is to “believe in children” and extend care to young people and vulnerable children. As per financial analysis of 2013, Barnardo’s spends approximately £191 million per year to provide required services. They extend support to mentioned groups and are actively involved in 800 local services. Barnardo’s is the largest children charity located in UK and has its headquarters in Barkingside, London. This study will encompass organizational context in wider sector, policies of the firm, management structure and funding arrangements. Discussion Welfare Context Barnardo’s is a children’s charity organization located in UK. They provide extensive care to young people and vulnerable children. In current scenario the firm’s operations is inclined towards local support, adoption, fostering, education, counselling, training and residential services. The major purpose of the firm is to offer support and services to more than 100,000 children, their families and young individuals. This charity work towards transforming young people and vulnerable children lives. They have even strengthened their entire operational procedure by designing campaign on child poverty, child care, asylum-seeking children, sexual exploitation and youth justice (Norman, 2007, pp. 90-91). There are wide set of advertising campaigns structured by the firm in order to raise attention amongst public. Barnardo’s perform all possible activities to prevent child exploitation and provide valuable career opportunities to young people. It can be stated that they provide social care and welfare services in best interests of children. The social welfare sector in UK is a highly competitive one since there is large number of firms working towards providing support to children. Social welfare organizations incorporate different ways to generate funds. The most well known charitable organizations in UK are Active Education and Training Trust, Asylum Support Partnership, British Association for Fostering and Adopting, British Red Cross, Carers UK, Children in Need, Common Purpose UK, Community Security Trust, Counsel and Care, Family Fund, Forces Children’s Trust, Healing the Wounds, Healthy Planet, Human Trafficking Foundation, etc (Hafford, 2009, pp. 75-76). These are some of the top charitable organizations that work for children and young people. On the other hand, economic stability of UK also supports operations of such social welfare organizations (Kline and Preston, 2012, pp. 76-77). However presence of wide base of welfare firms reduces the scope of Barnardo’s in terms of providing required support to children. Barnardo’s is a dominant player in the UK market as it acquires large volume funds for extending care to children. It is regarded as the largest charitable organization in UK and spends over £191 million on their daily activities. In comparison to other firms Barnardo’s is indulged into 800 local services (Massey and Pyper, 2005, pp. 82-83). This firm is considered to be largest children’s charity in terms of charity expenditure. The organization operates through wide number of stores so as to acquire funds. It is a dominant player because it has been operating in UK market from past many years (Hughes, 2003, pp. 97-98). Their experience and effective campaigns forms a major competitive advantage. They now not only restrict their operations to child abuse but even focus on young people. Policy Political conditions of a country play a significant role in operations performed by charitable organizations. These firms need to work in full coordination with government policies so as to ensure appropriate services are delivered to target group. UK political conditions are much more stable in relation to other regions. However political reforms occurring in this country has affected operational procedure of Barnardo’s. New government usually comes forward with new opportunities and new policies (Clarke, Cochrane and McLaughlin, 1994, pp. 113-114). These policies are usually incorporated within social welfare organizations and strategies are framed as per these policies. It can be stated that these firms has to take permission from government officials before implementing a particular plan. UK government has brought forth some new policies regarding reduction in child labour and focusing more on child education (Clarke and Gewirtz, 2000, pp. 56-57). This aspect is taken into consideration by the firm and it has even developed education programs for children. Barnardo’s was initially inclined towards providing support to children but in recent times its operations has shifted to young people and those who has been sexually exploited (Horton and Farnham, 1999, pp. 115-116). These expanded set of operations is due to political reforms prevailing in this country. On the other hand, certain turmoil in UK economy due to political challenges might affect financial stability of individuals in terms of donating for charitable organizations. Barnardo’s has been operating in UK from past many years and it occupies a strong market position. However the firm has been criticized to a great extent regarding its work in Cedars. It is a name given by UK Immigration Enforcement and it mainly describes pre-departure accommodation (Clarke and Newman, 1997, pp. 96-97). This unit helps families and their children pending deportation. The firm engages into social care and welfare facilities at a detention centre which is effectively managed by UK Border Agency. Barnardo’s has been criticized in context of legitimizing child detention. There are some No Border Network members who are against involvement of the firm in such activities (Butcher, 2002, pp. 82-83). There are even new policies framed by UK government that has affected functions of Barnardo’s. A government program has been structured which aim towards developing a Child Protection and Welfare Agency. The national action plan for the country states that poverty needs to be reduced by 4% and it has to be totally eliminated by 2016 (Maidment and Thompson, 1993, pp. 176-177). These social welfare intentions of political parties have positively affected activities performed by the child charity organization. Extensive child care is the major function that is performed by this organization and it is aligned with all child welfare laws or regulations. Management Structure The management structure defines the hierarchical positions of team members within an organization. There are different structures adopted by firms depending on their wide set of operations. Barnardo’s functions are managed by specified project coordinators who in turn are guided by officers (Barberis, 1998, pp. 90-145). Organizational structure of the firm has been elaborated in figure 1. Figure 1 As per figure 1 there are three project coordinators who are solely responsible for different organizational functions. They are guided by a project manager who directly reports to the director along with similar functions performed by accounts officer and administrative officer. Director needs to submit financial as well as operational reports to board of directors. There are different organizational structures and it needs to be aligned with basic operations. The organizational structure of Barnardo’s clearly outlines that there are specific functions performed by departments. Functional organizational structure is an appropriate model that explains functions and operations of this firm. On a broader context, functions performed by significant divisions can be justified through this model (Boyne, 2002, pp. 167-192). This model is all about coordination, task allocation and supervision. It clearly reflects upon how an organization performs or operates in external environment. There are certain features of NPM which can be associated with functions of Barnardo’s (Walsh, 1994, pp. 178-245). In NPM structure cost and benefit analysis is a vital component and it equally holds importance in case of Barnardo’s. Since it is a charitable organization proper cost has to be predicted that can fulfil strategic objectives. As per the model of NPM, there exists a relationship between counter measures and strategic target in multiple points within functional aspect of the firm (Stewart, 1993, pp. 213-297). Staffs of Barnardo’s are managed efficiently and they are considered to play a vital role in success or growth of the firm. The service conditions prevailing in this organization are in favour of employees. There is a strong bond between management and employees in Barnardo’s. This relationship enables them to make collective decisions for the benefit of overall society (Martin and Geddes, 2000, pp. 332-378). Participative decision making style is followed in the firm and it even smoothen organizational functions. Team members contribute their innovative ideas in order to deliver high levels of service and reduce child poverty to a minimum. Funding Arrangements Barnardo’s basically raises money from its wide range of local and high street retail shops. The firm works along with young people and children to generate required funds. Barnardo’s has second hand stores located across UK and even a wide array of shops selling vintage shoes, clothing, furniture and books. Many retailers and manufacturers donate new goods and clothing to Barnardo’s which they sell to others in order to generate funds (Hoggett, 1996, pp. 234-345). They even have an online store that sells new goods like greeting cards and gifts to individuals. These funding sources are uncertain for this organization since it greatly depends on percentage of sales volume. The products that are sold by the charitable organization might not be attractive for other people (Deakin and Walsh, 1996, pp. 213-244). This in turn will reduce the scope of fund generation and prove to be a major problem for the firm. There are some conditions associated with sources of income of Barnardo’s. This firm’s operations are greatly dependent on retail chain sales that might witness turmoil at any point of time. On the other hand, retailers or manufacturers who donate items to this charitable organization can shift towards other firms for profit margins. There is no fixed source of income for the firm and the entire process appears to be uncertain. Barnardo’s has set high performance standards in the industry by delivering required service levels to target recipients. It is even regarded as the largest charitable firm in terms of charitable expenditure. However in comparison to expenses, required fund level is not generated through its wide array of retail chains. There needs to be extended operations of the firm in context of fund generation so that set quality level is properly maintained. Ethical aspect is an important dimension of the overall functions performed Barnardo’s. This is simply because it belongs to the social welfare sector. Child care or youth careers can only be safeguarded when team members and management work ethically (Boyne, 2002, pp. 95-156). The medium of their fund generation is of high ethical value and it strongly support functions undertaken by the firm. There is no such conflict observed between ethics and professional roles in Barnardo’s. All the team members are well trained regarding their job roles and duties. Ethics form the core of services offered by the firm (Hatcher, 1998, pp. 485-499). The major objective of the firm is to extend child care across UK and reduce child poverty that is greatly reflected in each professional role. Conclusion This study outlines that social welfare organizations are operating in a highly competitive environment. In UK market there is wide range of charitable organizations that are focused towards child welfare. Barnardo’s is a well known charitable organization located in UK. The organization spends lump sum amount towards charitable activities. Child poverty is a major issue in different regions and this firm aim towards reducing child poverty to a desirable extent. Funding arrangements is a vital component in operational procedure of charitable organization. There are various sources of income which are explored by firms operating in social welfare sector. Barnardo’s over the years has been able to set strong position in the industry and it mainly opts for working along with young people and children. There are group of retail chains that are owned by the firm. These retail outlets are responsible to generate high revenue margins which are later converted into funds required for smooth functioning of Barnardo’s operations. However there is some uncertainty linked with this income source and there needs to be better fund generation source implemented. References Barberis, P., 1998. The new public management and a new accountability. Public Administration, 76 (3), pp. 90-145. Boyne, G. A., 2002. Public and private management: what’s the difference? Journal of Management Studies, 39(1), pp. 167-192. Boyne, G., 2002. Plans, performance information and accountability. Public Administration, 80(4), pp. 95-156. Butcher, T., 2002. 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