Social Work: A Very Short Introduction

Description

In this Very Short Introduction Sally Holland and Jonathan Scourfield explain what social work is and the range of cases it deals with. Looking at its history and main debates, as well as the theories and methods of social work, they include a range of case studies from around the world.

• Explains what social work is and looks at its role in contemporary society
• Includes a number of case studies looking at various social problems and social work relationships from around the world
• Explores its history, considers its purpose and effectiveness, and discusses the theories and methods
• Includes an international range of cases covering a variety areas of responsibility, including work with children, adults needing care, and work with offenders.
• Part of best selling Very Short Introductions series - over seven million copies sold worldwide

About the Author(s)

Sally Holland, Professor of Social Work, Cardiff University, and Jonathan Scourfield, Professor of Social Work, Cardiff University

Sally Holland is a Professor of Social Work at Cardiff University and Director of the CASCADE Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre. She teaches qualifying social workers on the MA Social Work and PhD students. She also carries out research on all aspects of children's social work. Before becoming an academic she worked in a range of social work settings, including residential child care, with street homeless people, as a local authority children's social worker, and in a family centre.

Jonathan Scourfield is Professor of Social Work at Cardiff University. His research covers child welfare, children's identities and suicide prevention and he also has a long-standing interest in social work with men. He teaches Masters and doctoral students in social work. Before becoming an academic he worked as a history teacher, a probation officer, and a group worker in a therapeutic community for people with drug and alcohol problems.

Table of Contents

1:What is social work?
2:The politics of social work
3:Social work with individuals and families
4:Social work with groups
5:Community social work
6:Does it work?
Further reading
Index