A Textbook of Social Work

Where did professional social work originate from? How effective are social work interpretations in the lives of vulnerable people? A Textbook of Social Workprovides a comprehensive discussion of social work practice and its evidence-base. It strikes a balance between the need for social workers to understand the social, economic, cultural, psychological and interpersonal factors which give rise to clients " problems, and the need for them to know how best to respond with practical measures. Divided into three parts: the text covers the history and of social work as a movement and profession in the first, and social work methods and approaches in the second. The final part looks at the major specialisms, including, among others, chapters on: Children and families Youth Offenders and substance misusers Social work and mental health Disabled people Older People Providing a comprehensive guide to conceptual and methodological issues in social work and containing plentiful case studies and examples, this book is an essential read for social work students, as well as a valuable resource for practitioners and academics.