EILEEN OAK is Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Salford, UK. She was a social worker for the previous 15 years, working with children and young people in a variety of settings.

• IntroductionSocial Theory and Social Work PracticePART I: CONTEXTS OF SOCIAL WORKThe changing Welfare LandscapePoverty, Social Exclusion and CitizenshipSociology, the law and Social WorkPART II: ARENAS OF PRACTICEWork with Service usersValuing diversity and differenceSocial Theory Assessment, Care Planning and EvaluationSociology and International Social Work.