Contemporary social work cannot be understood without an appreciation of the broader context of social policy in which it takes place. Such an understanding is increasingly important as social workers are expected to work across institutional, professional and even national boundaries in new ways profoundly affected by the changing global context.

IntroductionChapter 1: Tracing the Roots of Welfare and the Evolution of Social Policy and Social WorkChapter 2: Welfare Ideologies, Social Policy and Social WorkChapter 3: Social Problems and Social WorkChapter 4: Social Justice, Citizenship and EqualityChapter 5: How Social Work is Organized: institutional arrangements and governanceChapter 6: Social Work in Practice: the interface between the individual and the stateChapter 7: Social Work and GlobalizationChapter 8: Conclusion and Bringing it all TogetherBibliography

"Beautifully written and informed by extensive scholarship, Social Policy for Social Work will be of value to a wide range of audiences. Students will find its accessible style most helpful, and academics will find it a vital reference point for teaching in this area. It is really excellent and I recommend it wholeheartedly."Brid Featherstone, University of Huddersfield "This book will be essential reading for social work students, practitioners and educators. It makes a uniquely thoughtful and analytical contribution to the knowledge base for practice, and offers a comprehensive introduction for social workers to contemporary thinking in social policy. A must read!"Kate Morris, University of Sheffield "Social work is intrinsically impacted and, in part, defined by its context of social values, social theories and social policies. This book brilliantly explores these interactions and also why social work is a profession which should be treasured and championed. I found it informative, illuminating and invigorating. I expect you will too."Ray Jones, professor of social work at Kingston University and St George's, University of London "Lorraine Green and Karen Clarke have produced a book that is well written, and in fact in places is exquisitely written. ... This really is a must book for social work students that are studying social policy." British Journal of Social Work �This is a highly accessible, well-written and challenging book [�. T]he authors have sought to locate social work within a context of social values, the wider social policy agenda and a recognition of the power of political ideologies, impacting at the individual, family, market and the state levels. [�] The book provides an excellent introduction for social work and social policy students whilst reminding social workers of the need to uphold their professional values in negotiating the personal and the political.� Hugh McLaughlin, Journal of Social Policy �The book presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing social work by situating practice within its wider social policy context. It is carefully argued, well-referenced and [�] makes a positive contribution to the literature. Its recognition of problems outside the Global North strengthens its global appeal. [�] The enduring quality of the book is that it demonstrates the complex relationship between policy and practice in the continuing search for greater equality and social justice.� International Journal of Social Welfare