Becoming a Social Worker (Student Social Work)

This fully revised new edition of Becoming a Social Worker is made up of entirely new stories. Providing a ‘glocal’ frame of reference, the book describes the personal and professional narratives of a diverse range of people working in social work in the UK, what brought them into the field and what has kept them in it ever since.

The lively accounts reveal what it is like to be a social worker in a range of practice settings today and, at the same time, demonstrate that commitment and passion remain at the heart of social work. Some contributors will be recognised as people who have played a key part in shaping social work over the years; they provide insights into how the profession has developed over time. Other contributors, less well known but no less interesting, give a vivid account of the ongoing challenges that social work education and practice face, and the values that underpin social work. Social work is a demanding and difficult job that goes largely unseen within society. We only ever hear about social work and social workers when something goes wrong and a vulnerable adult or child is hurt. Becoming a Social Worker sets out to change that – to make social work visible, so that those considering a career in the caring professions across the world can make an informed choice about whether social work is the career for them.

It is relevant for all induction courses at the beginning and prior to coming on social work programmes including all relevant HNC and HND courses as well as preparation for practice courses on all undergraduate and postgraduate social work programmes.

Viviene E. Cree worked as a community worker, social worker and was latterly Professor of Social Work Studies at The University of Edinburgh. She has researched and published widely on social work topics. Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW) awarded her their Lifetime Achievement for Social Work in 2018.