Social Policy for Social Work, Social Care and the Caring Professions

Steve J Hothersall is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. He has previously worked as a manager and practitioner in social work and nursing. His recent publications include Social Work with Children, Young People and their Families in Scotland (2008) and (with Mike Maas-Lowit and Malcolm Golightley) Social Work and Mental Health in Scotland (2008). Janine Bolger is Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the Scottish Institute for Residential Childcare, based at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Prior to entering academia she worked in Child Protection, and was Assistant Principal of a residential special school.

• Introduction; I: Context; 1: What is social policy?; 2: A history of social policy; 3: Ideology: How ideas influence policy and welfare; 4: People, policy and practice; II: Themes and issues; 5: Poverty and social exclusion; 6: Risk, support and protection; 7: Changing patterns of care; 8: Welfare rights; 9: Social policy perspectives on empowerment; III: Policy for practice; 10: Health and health inequalities; 11: Mental health; 12: Older people; 13: Disability: A question of perception; 14: Children and their families; 15: Education and training in Scotland; 16: Substance use and social policy in Scotland: The struggle to make sense of things; 17: Social policy in the criminal justice system; 18: Asylum and immigration; 19: Housing and homelessness; 20: Conclusions: Onwards and upwards?

'Students in Scotland need to understand both the framework of policy in the UK and the distinctive approaches to social welfare provision taken in Scotland at national and local levels. In a wide range of fields, it is difficult to read across from texts mainly concerned with Westminster to practice in Scotland. A study of Scottish policy is therefore an essential complement to other readings in Social Policy.' Paul Spicker, The Robert Gordon University, UK 'This is a comprehensive and well-written text by a group of authors who bring both academic and practical experience to their contributions. The work covers key issues which inform and shape social policy and, thereby, social work and the caring professions. And, while the Scottish perspective is central it is nonetheless placed firmly and appropriately in a wider context.' John Stewart, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK 'The breadth of this project is quite extensive as the authors cover both the history of social work and the structure and branches of the current practice. ... the authors [...] have created a volume where each individual essay provides a detailed examination of a branch of social policy or social work, while the monograph as a whole is an excellent introductory text on the history of the Scottish policies and practices of the 'Caring Professions'... As well as being [...] an instructional text, Social Policy for Social Work is a fine scholarly work that contributes to both the historical and contemporary literature on social work... offers a solid basis for a trans-national approach to the practices and ideologies of social policy... a useful addition to the historiography on social work and the establishment of the welfare state.' International Review of Scottish Studies '... well organised, comprehensive and imaginative in places... It is a considerable achievement to have compiled this work from the resources of a single university team, and it will be a valuable introduction and reference work for people coming into the caring professions in Scotland.' European Journal of Social Work