What is Social Work?

Contexts and Perspectives

I'm impressed with this series of books, and am recommending them whenever relevant to a module.

This is a really useful introduction to the different roles of social workers and the historical development of the profession, with really helpful links to the PCF. It's a perfect introductory textbook for our introductory undergraduate social work module.

This book covers all the bases for introducing social work to students at the beginning of their course. Text is broken down into easily digested pedagogical features which allow the student to read digest and reinforce learning. Horner summarises material elegantly, which aids understanding for the student and supports lecturers in developing each session without additional research eg mapping changes from previous legislation when CA 1989 introduced. It is particularly important in the context that the students on this course are accessing material via blended learning as social work apprentices.

This is an exceptional resource for students wishing to become social workers. It is written in simple enough language for adult returners to learning to understand and it has prepared many of our students for their university interviews. I have been waiting for this updated edition as I have been using this resource for teaching for some years now. The appendices are excellent, particularly the timeline for social work development.

A very helpful introduction to both the historical policy context, yet also the contemporary landscape for social work.