Contingent coping? Renegotiating ‘fast’ disciplinary social policy at street level: Implementing the UK Troubled Families Programme.

Journal article


Hargreaves, Charlotte, Hodgson, Philip, Mohamed, Jayne Noor and Nunn, Alex 2018. Contingent coping? Renegotiating ‘fast’ disciplinary social policy at street level: Implementing the UK Troubled Families Programme. Critical Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018318780094
AuthorsHargreaves, Charlotte, Hodgson, Philip, Mohamed, Jayne Noor and Nunn, Alex
Abstract

This article reports on a study of local implementation in the UK Troubled Families Programme (TFP). Exploring the experiences of 12 families, the policies of local bureaucrats, and a critical reading of the literature, we argue that the local case represented an attempt to partially renegotiate disciplinary elements of the national programme and to recognise that the families were affected by structural poverty and inequality. Locating the TFP in the literature on disciplinary social policy, multi-scale ‘Fast Policy’ and the potential for local subversion through the agency of frontline workers, we suggest that the local attempts to renegotiate programme priorities were partially successful. These attempts were characteristic of ‘contingent coping’ in terms of both institutional processes and outcomes for the families involved. The evidence reported is significant and timely in the context of the expanded and relaunched TFP and this shapes our commentary on the recently published Improving Lives strategy.

KeywordsDiscipline; Inequality; Poverty; Bureaucracy; Subversion; Troubled families; Society
Year2018
JournalCritical Social Policy
PublisherSage
ISSN02610183
1461703X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018318780094
Web address (URL)http://hdl.handle.net/10545/622775
hdl:10545/622775
Publication dates25 Jun 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited02 Jul 2018, 10:39
Accepted02 May 2018
Rights

Archived with thanks to Critical Social Policy

ContributorsUniversity of Derby, University of Derby, England, University of Derby, England, University of Derby, England and University of Derby, England
File
File Access Level
Open
File
File Access Level
Open
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/925w9/contingent-coping-renegotiating-fast-disciplinary-social-policy-at-street-level-implementing-the-uk-troubled-families-programme

Download files

  • 356
    total views
  • 38
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

The intellectual and institutional challenges for International Political Economy in the UK: Findings from Practitioner Survey Data
Nunn, Alex and Sheilds, Stuart 2022. The intellectual and institutional challenges for International Political Economy in the UK: Findings from Practitioner Survey Data. Review of International Studies. https://doi.org/10.1017/s026021052100070x
Global Pressures, Household Social Reproduction Strategies and Compound Inequality
Farrall, Stephen, Gray, Emily, Nunn, Alex and Tepe-Belfrage, Daniela 2021. Global Pressures, Household Social Reproduction Strategies and Compound Inequality. New Political Economy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2021.2007231
The power of PES partnerships
Davern, Eamonn, Nunn, Alex and Scoppetta, Anette 2021. The power of PES partnerships. European Union. https://doi.org/10.2767/391327
Recovery Communities: Resources & Settings
Best, D., Hargreaves, C, Hodgson, P. and Patton, D. 2021. Recovery Communities: Resources & Settings. in: Tucker, J. A. and Witkiewitz, K. (ed.) Dynamic Pathways to Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 303 - 316
S.H.E.D panel at InDialogue 2019
Jones, Rhiannon, Courage, Cara, Nunn, Alex and Barker, Victoria 2019. S.H.E.D panel at InDialogue 2019. InDialogue.
#ThisIsDerby evaluation report
Dodsley, Thomas, Hargreaves, Charlotte, Nunn, Alex and Price, Sophia 2020. #ThisIsDerby evaluation report. Derby County Community Trust.
Depletion and Subjective Well-Being: Lessons from the UK Coronavirus Lockdown
Nunn, A. and Cowling, M. 2020. Depletion and Subjective Well-Being: Lessons from the UK Coronavirus Lockdown. Global Policy.
Neoliberalisation, fast policy transfer and the management of labor market services
Nunn, Alex 2019. Neoliberalisation, fast policy transfer and the management of labor market services. Review of International Political Economy. https://doi.org/10.1080/09692290.2019.1625424
Do employment services need to be neoliberal
Nunn, Alex 2018. Do employment services need to be neoliberal. in: Routledge.
Contested cultures of care: research with and for the plus one community on the plus one experience - evaluation report
Dodsley, Thomas, Manning-Jones, Alix, Nunn, Alex, Bowers-Brown, Tamsin, Benaton, Tonimarie and Murden, Jade 2019. Contested cultures of care: research with and for the plus one community on the plus one experience - evaluation report. Plus One.
The political economy of public employment services: measurement and disempowered empowerment?
Nunn, Alex and Morgan, Jamie 2018. The political economy of public employment services: measurement and disempowered empowerment? Policy Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2018.1540777
Body-worn cameras: determining the democratic habitus of policing.
Cayli, Baris, Hargreaves, Charlotte and Hodgson, Philip 2018. Body-worn cameras: determining the democratic habitus of policing. Safer Communities. https://doi.org/10.1108/SC-03-2018-0008
Social unrest in the UK and Turkey: Rethinking police violence against dissident communities.
Cayli, Baris, Hodgson, Philip and Walsh, Dave 2018. Social unrest in the UK and Turkey: Rethinking police violence against dissident communities. Comparative Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1163/15691330-12341455
Trends and developments in PES partnership working.
Nunn, Alex 2015. Trends and developments in PES partnership working. European Commission.
Saving world market society from itself? The new global politics of inequality and the agents of world market society.
Nunn, Alex 2015. Saving world market society from itself? The new global politics of inequality and the agents of world market society. Spectrum: Journal of Global Studies.
The political economy of competitiveness and continuous adjustment in EU meta-governance.
Nunn, Alex and Beeckmans, Paul 2015. The political economy of competitiveness and continuous adjustment in EU meta-governance. International Journal of Public Administration. https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2015.1028645
Performance, accountability and links with benchlearning.
Scharle, Ágota, Adamecz, Anna and Nunn, Alex 2017. Performance, accountability and links with benchlearning. European Union.
HS2 skills and employability strategic framework – fast track to inclusive growth across the East Midlands.
Hobson, Chris, Clark, Elaine and Nunn, Alex 2017. HS2 skills and employability strategic framework – fast track to inclusive growth across the East Midlands. East Midlands Councils.
Research on making the most of HS2 investments and connectivity in the EM Labour Market.
Nunn, Alex, Hutchinson, Jo, Hobson, Chris and Clark, Elaine 2017. Research on making the most of HS2 investments and connectivity in the EM Labour Market. East Midlands Councils.
Evaluation of the Performance Management Framework for Jobcentre Plus
Nunn, Alex, Devins, David, Bickerstaffe, Tim and Wymer, Penny 2012. Evaluation of the Performance Management Framework for Jobcentre Plus. HMSO.
International Review of Performance Management Systems in Public Employment Services
Nunn, Alex, Bickerstaffe, Tim and Mitchell, Ben 2010. International Review of Performance Management Systems in Public Employment Services. Department for Work and Pensions.
Managing Neoliberalisation Through the EU-ACP Trade Relationship
Price, Sophia and Nunn, Alex 2016. Managing Neoliberalisation Through the EU-ACP Trade Relationship.
Performance Management in Public Employment Services
Nunn, Alex 2012. Performance Management in Public Employment Services. European Commission.
Early effects of the economic downturn on the Welfare to Work System in deprived areas (WP83)
Nunn, Alex, Bickerstaffe, Tim, Jassi, Sukky and Wymer, Penny 2010. Early effects of the economic downturn on the Welfare to Work System in deprived areas (WP83). Department for Work and Pensions.
The contested and contingent outcomes of Thatcherism in the UK
Nunn, Alex 2014. The contested and contingent outcomes of Thatcherism in the UK. Capital and Class. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309816814530126
The structural contradictions and constraints on corporate social responsibility: Challenges for corporate social irresponsibility
Nunn, Alex 2012. The structural contradictions and constraints on corporate social responsibility: Challenges for corporate social irresponsibility. in: Emerald.
Jobcentre Plus Jobseeker's Allowance off-flow rates: Key Management Indicator Post-Implementation Review
Nunn, Alex and Jassi, Sukky 2010. Jobcentre Plus Jobseeker's Allowance off-flow rates: Key Management Indicator Post-Implementation Review. HMSO.
The Role of Skills from Worklessness to Sustainable Employment with Progression: International Case Study Reports
Nunn, Alex, Mailand, Mikkel, Leschke, Janine and Bickerstaffe, Tim 2011. The Role of Skills from Worklessness to Sustainable Employment with Progression: International Case Study Reports. UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
World Society and a World State in the Shadow of the World Market: Democracy and Global Political Economy
Nunn, Alex and Morgan, Jamie 2016. World Society and a World State in the Shadow of the World Market: Democracy and Global Political Economy. in: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
The political economy of competitiveness and social mobility
Nunn, Alex 2012. The political economy of competitiveness and social mobility. British Politics. https://doi.org/10.1057/bp.2011.33
The Role of Skills from Worklessness to Sustainable Employment with Progression
Devins, David, Bickerstaffe, Tim, Nunn, Alex, Mitchell, Ben, McQuaid, Ronald, Egdell, Valerie and Lindsay, Sue 2011. The Role of Skills from Worklessness to Sustainable Employment with Progression. UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Managing neo-liberalisation through the Sustainable Development Agenda: the EU-ACP trade relationship and world market expansion
Price, Sophia and Nunn, Alex 2017. Managing neo-liberalisation through the Sustainable Development Agenda: the EU-ACP trade relationship and world market expansion. Third World Thematics: A TWQ Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802014.2016.1287528
The IMF and a new global politics of inequality?
Nunn, Alex and White, Paul 2017. The IMF and a new global politics of inequality? Journal of Australian Political Economy.
Disciplinary social policy and the failing promise of the new middle classes: the troubled families programme
Tepe-Belfrage, Daniela and Nunn, Alex 2016. Disciplinary social policy and the failing promise of the new middle classes: the troubled families programme. Social Policy and Society. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746416000452
The production and reproduction of inequality in the UK in times of austerity
Nunn, Alex 2016. The production and reproduction of inequality in the UK in times of austerity. British Politics. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41293-016-0040-6
Diplomacy and the politics of fear: the 21st century challenges to the theory and practice of Diplomacy and International Relations
Jegede, Francis, Todd, Malcolm, Stubbs, John and Hodgson, Philip 2016. Diplomacy and the politics of fear: the 21st century challenges to the theory and practice of Diplomacy and International Relations. LHSS, University of Derby.
Anti social behaviour, community and radical moral communitarianism
Hopkins-Burke, Roger and Hodgson, Philip 2015. Anti social behaviour, community and radical moral communitarianism. Cogent Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2015.1033369