Research Catalog

Title

Social work : the rise and fall of a profession? / Steve Rogowski.

Author

Rogowski, Steve.

Publication

Bristol : Policy Press, 2010.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

ix, 216 p.; 22 cm.

Summary

"Social work, once the rising star of the human service delivery professions, has increasingly come under attack from politicians and the media, often following child abuse tragedies and particularly after the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979. Subsequently, private sector managerialism was introduced both to control what social workers do and how, as well as to reduce public expenditure. They had to cope with increased bureaucracy and given stringent targets aimed at rationing resources, leading to deprofessionalisation with organisations', rather than users', needs now dominating. From a critical perspective, this book charts social work's development over the last 150 years, pinpointing the present neoliberal consensus as being at the root of the profession's current crisis. Notwithstanding the difficulties involved, it calls for a progressive, radical/critical practice based on social justice and social change. The book is essential reading for social work academics, students and experienced practitioners. Equally, social policy academics and students along with those in public policy and social science more generally will find it of Interest."--Back cover.

Subject

• Social service > Vocational guidance
• Social service > Philosophy
• Social service > Great Britain
• Social workers > Legal status, laws, etc. > Great Britain
• Society
• Social service
• Social workers > Legal status, laws, etc
• Socialt arbete
• Great Britain

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-208) and index.

Contents

Introduction: the rise and fall of social work? -- The beginnings of social work to its 1970s zenith -- Thatcherism: challenges and opportunities -- New Labour: new challenges and (fewer) opportunities -- The professionalisation of social work? -- Managerialism and the social work business -- Conclusion: The changing face, or the fall of social work?

ISBN

• 9781847424488
• 1847424481

LCCN

2011410107

OCLC

• ocn662401966
• 662401966
• SCSB-1582915

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library