A contemporary history of social work: Learning from the Past - Hardcover

Bamford, Terry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1447322150 ISBN 13: 9781447322153

Publisher: Policy Press, 2015

Synopsis

Drawing on lessons from the recent history of social work to identify how and why it has lost its privilege and influence, this book challenges social work students to understand why social work has failed to maintain its position as a driver of social reform. Bamford looks forward to a new model of practice that places a commitment to put social justice back at the heart of professional practice. The book contributes to the topical debates about social work education and the identity of the profession, encouraging critical thinking about organisation models, practice content and meaning of professionalism in social work. Students are asked to consider questions such as why has social work found it so hard to define its role? , is the neoliberal tide irreversible?, and do the jibes of political correctness have any substance?. The book provides students of social work, history of social work and social policy, with a greater understanding of how social work became an unloved profession, whilst simultaneously charting a more hopeful course for the future.

About this title

About the Author

Terry Bamford has been active in social work for five decades. He has chaired the British Association of Social Workers, been a Director of Social Services in Northern Ireland and a London borough. He was a founder member of the General Social Care Council. He has chaired a Primary Care Trust and is currently Chair of the Social Work History Network and of Healthwatch in Bexley.

Edition details

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1447322150
• ISBN 13: 9781447322153
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256