Finlay, Hilary Inez (1980) The relationship of the church and state in social work : four case studies in a context. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The research focusses on the study of four separate groups of
workers involved in the provision of some form of social work
service. Each group is based in a well-known setting, which has a
distinctive historical and organisational background. Two are
specifically religious, namely Roman Catholic Sisters working with
families in their own homes, and those staffing a Salvation Army
Hostel for the Single Homeless; and two are of a secular and
statutory nature, namely non-qualified staff within a Social
Services Department, and those running a Government Reception
Centre for the Single Homeless.
The thesis is divided into four distinct sections. Section A,
consisting of two chapters, aims to introduce the reader to the
research, to the structure of the thesis, and more specifically
to the overall methodology which was adopted. This necessarily
includes a discussion of the actual methods utilised, including
the process of writing up, and the approach employed towards
existing literature. It is a moving methodology whose approach
demands a more fluid, multi-disciplinary approach to other
literature, and a presentation or form which relates to both
method and content.
Having set the scene in Section A, Section B turns to the
empirical material and provides the first of the two main empirical
sections. Again consisting of two chapters, the first is concerned
with the historical development of the four institutions involved.
These descriptive sub-sections are then followed by an historical
analysis of the relationship of church and state, and finally the
our groups are set in relationship to the Welfare State, Chapter
Four focusses on the other structural way of making sense of
institutions, that of ideology. Having introduced the concept of
ideology, particularly in relation to practice, the contemporary
role of the church in the 'welfare state' is considered. The
chapter also examines five ideological issues which were seen to
influence carers.
Section C presents the empirical data as related to three
central themes: Chapter Five-Perceptions of Work, Chapter Six-Social Service Work and Client Groups, and, Chapter Seven-Community
and Bureaucracy as Organisational Forms. Chapter Five is concerned
with perceptions of work and focusses attention on those studied as
"workers". The importance of work as a category of analysis only
emerged during the research, but the chapter becomes central to
the whole thesis, dealing with a considerable range of empirical
material. Chapter Six concentrates on the clients' experiences of
the four institutions from which they sought help. This information
was not gained by direct interview but from observation and
inference from what worcers said. The final Chapter turns to the
organisational form within which the service is provided, for this
too had emerged as a fundamental issue. Community, as measured in
terms of the members' sense of solidarity and significance, is
contrasted with bureaucracy. Two concrete examples of the effects
of organisation are examined, as are the implications of community
for those who 'care'.
Section D necessarily aims to draw together those findings
already reported (both implicitly and explicitly) and to comment
upon them. The first part of Chapter Eight concentrates on
exploring various 'Ways of Concluding' findings derived from such
a methodology. The idea of community as an important organisational
form for the carers emerges from a wide range of conclusions as the
most significant. The second part is devoted to the implications
for future research and practice, not least in terms of the
methodology and the actual process of writing up such research.
The thesis concludes with pointers for areas of future research.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Social service -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Church and state -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Welfare state -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Church and social problems -- Great Britain -- Case studies
Official Date:	June 1980
Dates:	Date Event June 1980 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Sociology
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Corrigan, Paul, 1948-
Sponsors:	Social Science Research Council (Great Britain)
Extent:	[390] p.
Language:	eng

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