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Co-production & Democratisation of Public Services - SPY00153M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Enrico Reuter
  • Credit value: 15 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module summary

Enabling citizens to influence policy decisions around public services and ensuring that the actual delivery of services meets the demands of users appear as important objectives in a democratic society. This module explores the different facets of public service democratisation, including its benefits, obstacles and problems.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Online Teaching Period 5 2023-24

Module aims

This module provides students with an understanding of the different venues and modes of decision-making around public services, and explores the role of service users and citizens in shaping public services. Students will explore the relevance of co-production, user involvement and democratic professionalism, and analyse the links between public services, social needs and democratic politics.

To explore these issues, the module differentiates between three levels: First, the conditions under which national policy-making regarding public service funding and delivery operates; secondly, the impact of organisational parameters on public service professionals and on opportunities for the direct involvement of service users; thirdly, the degree to which public services respond to individual and wider social needs.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

  • define ‘public services’ and discuss their political, social and economic relevance.

  • analyse the political conditions that determine the funding, modes of delivery, and priorities of public services.

  • understand how service users, citizens and public service professionals can be involved in decision-making; as well as evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these forms of involvement.

  • critically apply the concepts of co-production, user involvement, democratic professionalism, and democratic politics to the topic of public services.

  • situate the question of public service democratisation in the wider context of contemporary challenges around democratic legitimacy.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback on summative assessments will be provided within 20 working days, consisting of written comments and a marking matrix.

Indicative reading

Griffiths, S., Kippin, H., Stoker, G. (2013). Public Services. A New Reform Agenda. Bloomsbury.

Lethbridge, J. (2019). Democratic professionalism in public services. Policy Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.