Policy Press Race, Racism and Social Work: Contemporary issues and debates

Without a doubt, structural and institutionalised racism is still present in Britain and Europe, a factor that social work education and training has been slow to acknowledge. In this timely new book, Lavalette and Penketh reveal that racism towards Britains minority ethnic groups has undergone a process of change. They affirm the importance of social work to address issues of race and racism in education and training by presenting a critical review of a this demanding aspect of social work practice. Original in its approach, and with diverse perspectives from key practitioners in the field, the authors examine contemporary anti-racism, including racism towards Eastern European migrants, Roma people and asylum seekers. It also considers the implications of contemporary racism for current practice. This is essential reading for anyone academically or professionally interested in social work, and the developments in this field of study post 9/11. Review contains much of what a social worker needs to know about social work and racism today...recommend[ed]...for further reading and discussion at universities as well as by the public. European Journal of Social Work The book offers ideas and arguments that can contribute to a more critical and reflective stance on race and racism and the beginning of more informed, sensitive, and anti-racist methods of social work practice. Strengths include an excellent glossary of terms and definitions. Choice The significance of this book is that it reasserts that social work needs to adopt a more radical approach to social work intervention and that this intervention needs to draw on anti-racist theories and practices. Critical and Radical Social Work About the Author Michael Lavalette is Professor of Social Work at Liverpool Hope University. He has written several books and articles for all the main social work journals. He has also edited a wide range of books on a variety of social policy and social work themes, most recently Radical Social Work Today (2011, The Policy Press) and Social Work in Extremis (2011, The Policy Press). He is co-editor of Critical and Radical Social Work, launching in 2013. Laura Penketh is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Liverpool Hope University. She has taught in Higher Education for over 20 years. Her first post was at the University of Central Lancashire (1999-2003); she then moved to the University of Manchester (2003-2009), before joining Liverpool Hope University in September, 2009. She has written widely about issues of social work and oppression, including an analysis of CCETSWs anti-racist initiative called Tackling Institutional Racism (2000, The Policy Press)