Radical social work in practice

Making a difference

Ferguson, Iain, Woodward, Rona

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Year: 2009
• eBook ISBN: 9781447342694
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Work
• Index: Social Sciences

Radical social work is a tradition often identified exclusively with the movement which developed in the UK in the 1970s, yet as this much-needed new textbook demonstrates, the relevance of radical approaches to contemporary social work practice have never been stronger. Challenges to a neoliberal approach to social work have been gaining ground academically, and, to a lesser extent, in practice circles. This book provides a fresh understanding of the radical tradition and shows how it can be developed in contemporary social work. Using case studies to illustrate the type of dilemmas faced by workers in their day-to-day practice, the book sets out the ways in which a radical social work approach can inform constructive responses. The book emphasises the need to understand the diverse lives of service users, encouraging readers to share experience and knowledge and to discuss past and present events, to build confidence in tackling injustice at individual and societal levels. As many social workers are becoming disillusioned and dissatisfied with the profession, this book promotes a practice that is rooted in a commitment to positive change and to social justice that will offer a breath of fresh air to students and practitioners alike.

Table of contents

• Radical social work in practice
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• 1: Social work in a divided society
• 2: The radical kernel
• 3: Neoliberalism and social work
• 4: State social work: constraints and possibilities
• 5: The ‘third sector’: a radical alternative?
• 6: Beyond good intentions: the challenge from service users and carers
• 7: Rediscovering collective approaches
• 8: Conclusion: social work – a profession worth fighting for
• References
• Index