Regulating Social Services in Israel

This chapter examines the evolving landscape of social services regulation in Israel. Over recent decades, the state has increasingly shifted from direct service provision to contracting out, creating a complex and hybrid service delivery system. In response, regulation has become a central tool for managing the relationships between government and non-state providers. Drawing on empirical research and policy analysis, the chapter traces key transformations in regulatory arrangements, highlighting shifts in rationales, mechanisms, and institutional actors. It identifies a transition from informal, fragmented oversight to more formalized and professional regulatory practices, while also revealing tensions between bureaucratic control, professional discretion, and service user responsiveness. The chapter argues that regulation in this context is shaped not only by managerial concerns but also by normative and relational considerations. By analyzing the Israeli case, the chapter contributes to a broader understanding of the regulatory welfare state and the role of regulation in balancing efficiency, accountability, and care in outsourced social services. <div> <br> </div> <div> Benish, A., &amp; Spiro, S. (2025). Regulating social services in Israel. In H. Schmid &amp; Y. Sabah (Eds.), <em>Leadership and management in social services in Israel: Theory, research and practice</em> (pp. 103–122). Tel Aviv: Resling Publishing. </div> <div> <br> </div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>בניש, א'., ושפירו, ש'. (2025). רגולציה של שירותי רווחה בישראל. בתוך ה' שמיד וי' צבע (עורכים), <em>מנהיגות וניהול בשירותי הרווחה בישראל: תיאוריה, מחקר ופרקטיקה</em> (עמ' 103–122). תל אביב: הוצאת רסלינג.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>