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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.
".. the authors have produced a thoughtful, committed and wholly convincing book, which sets and achieves a high level of critical debate. It is certainly a must-read for all social work students. However, it should be read by everyone who is concerned about the future of social work and, above all, by those searching for more creative ways to tackle injustice and strengthen the emancipatory content of their work." Paul Stepney in British Journal of Social Work
Dr Iain Ferguson worked for many years as a social worker and community worker in various settings in the west of Scotland. He currently teaches social work at the University of Stirling. He is the author of "Reclaiming Social Work: Challenging Neo-liberalism and Promoting Social Justice" (Sage, 2008) and is a co-founder of the Social Work Action Network.
Rona Woodward (1964-2014) qualified as a social worker in 1990 and worked in local authority social work services in London and the east of Scotland for 10 years, with a particular interest in children and young people at risk or in need, including young offenders. Having taken her MSc in criminal justice in 1999, she worked as a criminology researcher at Edinburgh University and taught social work at Glasgow Caledonian University and later Stirling University
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