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 important therefore for students to engage critically with social policy. This book introduces policy and shows how it has changed and evolved over time, how it reflects changes in society and how it is applied to everyday practice.
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
