Delivering the UK welfare state

Abstract

A range of welfare services are delivered to citizens on behalf of the state, both directly by public servants, and by private actors from the for-profit and non-profit sectors. In this paper, we explore the multiple roles which the state must play in this mixed welfare system. We trace the key trends in the delivery of UK welfare services over time and analyse the binary distinction between 'public' and 'outsourced' delivery. We examine the challenges of contracted delivery, and explore emerging models emphasizing partnership and collaboration around delivery, before finally considering the role that citizens themselves play in delivering welfare.