Social Policy and Social Work: An Introduction

by Jo Cunningham, Steve Cunningham, Alice O'Sullivan

Overview

An understanding of social policy is crucial for social workers as it underpins and shapes the legislative framework that they work within. From safeguarding service users and enabling them to improve their lives, to protecting the most vulnerable in society, social policy also has a vital role to play within social work education. It is therefore important that you, as a social work student, learn to engage critically with social policy. This book will introduce you to policy and show you how it has changed and evolved over time, how it reflects changes in society and how it can be applied to your practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526493521
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	04/27/2025
Series:	Transforming Social Work Practice Series
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.73(w) x 9.68(h) x (d)

About the Author

Jo Cunningham is a Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire and programme leader of the BA Social Work. Jo has taught sociology and social work practice for a number of years. Before commencing her lecturing career, Jo was a social worker in the area of children and families. Research interests include childhood accidents and child death, and more recently the practice implications of asylum policy for professionals, children and their families.

Steve Cunningham is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Central Lancashire. He has taught sociology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level for 27 years. His research interests are focused on welfare history, poverty and social security, the sociology of welfare and children’s political activism. He is the author of numerous publications in these areas.

Alice O'Sullivan is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Social Care at Leeds Beckett University. She has taught on range of undergraduate and postgraduate social work, social science and social care programmes since 2010. Her teaching interests centre upon sociology, social policy and social justice. Before becoming a lecturer, Alice was a social worker working with children and families.

Table of Contents

Part I: The historical and theoretical context
Chapter 1: Social policy and social work
Chapter 2: The development of social policy and social work in the nineteenth century
Chapter 3: Ideology, social policy and social work
Chapter 4: Social democracy and the development of social policy and social work after 1945
Chapter 5: Neo-liberalism and the development of social policy and social work after 1979
Part II: Social policy, social work and service users
Chapter 6: Marxism, Social Policy and Social Work
Chapter 7: Children, social policy and social work
Chapter 8: Youth, social policy, social work and the 'crisis of youth’
Chapter 9: Adults, social policy and social work: The personalisation agenda
Chapter 10: Ageing, social policy and social work

Editorial Reviews

This text directed to social workers, introduces the essential legislation, and the necessary guidelines to understand how some laws are interpreted, for and by social work practice. That is illustrated through practical examples that explore in a realistic and specialized way the areas of law that affect this practice.

CBQ reviews - Courtney Lawson