Social work : the basics / Mark Doel.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Pioneer, investigator, agitator : a brief introduction -- [1.] Reformist or radical : Social work's roots and different identities. What is social work? -- Origins of social work -- Social work values and ethics -- Beginnings of social work knowledge -- Roots of models and methods -- Evolution of social work education -- Development of social work organisation -- Welfare -- Social work and social problems -- Ideology -- Managerialism -- The cousins -- [2.] Harridan or heroine : the public face of social work. Public image -- Public service -- Media -- Politics -- Social work responses -- Themes -- Language -- [3.] Clients or service users : how and why people come into contact with social work. Neither universal nor mainstream -- Clients -- Who becomes a service user and how? -- Looking after other people's children -- Children and families -- Court work and youth justice -- Disabilities -- Mental health -- Drug and alcohol misuse -- Refugees, asylum seekers and travellers -- Older people -- Service users who do not want to be service users -- Service users providing and buying social services -- Carers -- Service users as volunteers -- Where do social workers and clients meet? -- On a caseload -- Themes -- What do service users want from social work? -- [4.] A profession or a career; a calling or a job : what social workers do and how social work is organized. A profession -- A career or a calling -- A job -- Themes -- Management and leadership -- Social work practice -- A week in social work -- Social work and social care -- How social work services are organised -- How social work services are bought and sold -- Regulation, inspection and conduct -- Relations with the neighbours -- [5.] A discipline or a skill; an education or a training : how social workers learn their practice. A discipline -- Social work research -- Theory and practice -- Social work skills -- Reflective practice -- Education and training -- Becoming a social worker -- Placements and practice learning -- The organisation of social work education -- Supervision -- Law and social work -- After qualification -- [6.] Universal or specific : social work local and global. Generic and specialist -- Specifics in social work -- Countries of the United Kingdom -- International social work -- International mobility -- [7.] Past and future : the pioneers of today are the prophets of tomorrow (Attlee). Challenges -- An ideal social work?

This book presents a broad view of contemporary social work, exploring its roots and its possible future. It dispels myths surrounding social work, addresses media debates, and offers a balanced account of what social workers do. The book argues for a social work that is partisan in support of social justice.

This work presents an introduction into the world of social work. The author presents a broad view of contemporary social work, exploring its roots and its possible future. He dispels myths surrounding social work, addresses media debates, and offers a balanced account of what social workers do. The book argues for a social work that is partisan in support of social justice. Drawing examples from the full range of social work practice, this book is valuable reading for all individuals interested in the field of social work. It will provide a helpful introduction for students considering a career in social work, those beginning social work courses, and other professionals whose work brings them into contact with social workers and who want to find out more about what social work is.