Routledge Social Work: A Reader (Student Social Work)

What are the key ideas that underpin social work practice?This inspiring Reader brings together some of the most significant ideas which have informed social work practice over the last forty years. Exploring these fundamental ideas, the book includes commentaries that allow the reader to understand the texts on their own terms as well as to be aware of their relations to each other and to the wider social work context. An accessible introduction contextualises the reader, summarising the main themes and highlighting key issues. The book is then divided into three main sections, each presenting key texts which have contributed to the development of:the profession of social work social work knowledge and values social work skills and practice. There is no settled view or easy consensus about what social work is and should be, and the ideas reflected in this volume are themselves diverse and complex. The contributions are drawn from a wide range of perspectives: psychological, sociological, philosophical, educational and political, as well as perspectives which are grounded in the experiences of practitioners and those who use services. This important resource is essential reading for all social work students. Review 'This is a stimulating collection of readings by authoritative authors on topics of great relevance to contemporary social work.' - Robert Adams, University of Teesside, UK'Viviene Cree is to be congratulated on compiling a compelling and first-rate collection of literature for this reader. From Freire, through Bailey and Brake to Fook, and from C. Wright Mills, through Egan to Saleeby, this is a varied collection from the world of social work and beyond. It is a balanced and comprehensive range of material covering many schools of thought on myriad areas of interest to students, academics and practising social workers. The quality of the chapters makes most of them timeless and readers will want to revisit and relearn over a long period of time.' - Mark Baldwin, University of Bath, UK'Social work needs a book like this. It is stuffed with extracts from some of the best past and present writings on and for social work. Cree’s enthusiasm is infectious and will have readers returning to half remembered texts and searching out the material that is new to them. It is a splendid book – a celebration of social work reading.' - John Pinkerton, Queen's University Belfast, UK"I will make use of this book in my work, as it is a useful aide memoire and pointer to the areas of knowledge we should be bearing in mind in our thinking and further developments. It reminds us of important areas in a way that can help us keep key issues at the forefront of our mind when we might be getting rather too narrow in our thinking about an area." - Brian Littlechild, British Journal of Social Work, 2012 About the Author Viviene E. Cree is Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She is the author of Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers, editor of Becoming a Social Worker and co-author of Social Work: Voices from the Inside, all published by Routledge. She is also co-author of Social Work: Making a Difference and co-editor of the series, Social Work in Practice, published jointly by BASW and the Policy Press.