Human Rights in Social Work: Key Themes for an Emerging Paradigm in Education, Practice and Research (Research in Social Work)

What does it mean for social work to truly uphold human rights in an era marked by economic austerity, political polarisation and global crises?

Human Rights in Social Work offers a powerful and timely response, calling for a fundamental rethinking of practice rooted in relational, dignity-driven approaches. Grounded in critical theory and real-world issues, this book interrogates the limitations of current approaches and offers a compelling vision for a more just, relational and accountable social work in which intersectionality and cultures play a central role.

Bringing together leading voices in theory, practice and research, the book examines how social workers can move beyond rhetoric – confronting the profession’s own historic and ongoing failings – to embed a deeper, more intersectional understanding of human rights into social work’s core.

Ian Cummins is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Salford University. He qualified as a probation officer and subsequently worked as a mental health social worker. His research interests including the history of community care and mental health issues in the CJS. His most recent work has focused on poverty, inequality and advanced marginality.

Research Assistant, Sustainable Housing & Urban Studies Unit, University of Salford