Professional social work has changed considerably over the last forty years coinciding with the demise of the social democratic consensus of the post-war years and the emergence and now domination of neoliberalism. Rather than the state through the government of the day ensuring citizens' basic needs were met via the welfare state, the belief in free market economics entails people having to be self-reliant and self-responsible. This has involved social work with children and families moving from a helping and supportive role to one that is more authoritarian, this often involving telling parents to change their behaviour and lifestyle or face the consequences.

This book outlines the development of social work with children and families over the period in question, drawing on the author's unique practice experience and his extensive writings. It charts the highs and lows of social work, the latter including the dominance of managerialism which emphasises speedy completion of bureaucracy so as to ration resources and assess/manage risk. Despite this, the argument is for a critical practice which addresses service users immediate needs while simultaneously aiming towards a more socially just and equal society.

This book is essential reading for everyone interested in social work including academics, students, practitioners and managers both in the UK and overseas. Social care and allied professionals more generally will also find it insightful, as will academics, students and educators of social policy and related disciplines.

About the Author
Steve Rogowski has almost forty years' practice experience of social work. On qualifying he worked as a generic social worker for Derbyshire Council. Since then he has been a social worker with children and families for Oldham Council where he remains. He has published widely about his experiences in a variety of social work/policy journals and magazines, recently including the odd blog. His books 'Social Work: The Rise and Fall of a Profession?' and 'Critical Social Work with Children and Families: Theory, Context and Practice' were published in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

Reviews

'Another insightful contribution by Steve Rogowski who, in recent years, has written about the rise of neoliberalism and managerialism, and the contextual effects of this development upon frontline social work practice with children and families. As with his other publications, this book advocates a critical social work practice which makes interesting reading for both students and more professionally experienced practitioners.

This book reflects Steve's passion for social justice. Unlike many writers on social work, he has spent most of his professional life doing the job and he provides readers with important dispatches from the profession's 'frontline'. The book should be on 'recommended reading lists' for social courses in the UK and beyond.' - Lisa Cooney, Social Worker, England

Book Information
ISBN 9781472433718
Author Steve Rogowski
Format Hardback
Page Count 202
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g