Social Policy and Social Work: An Introduction

An understanding of social policy is crucial for social workers as it underpins and shapes the legislative framework that they work within. From safeguarding service users and enabling them to improve their lives, to protecting the most vulnerable in society, social policy also has a vital role to play within social work education. It is therefore important that you, as a social work student, learn to engage critically with social policy. This book will introduce you to policy and show you how it has changed and evolved over time, how it reflects changes in society and how it can be applied to your practice.

In this new edition, you will learn how to:

• Understand the latest professional expectations, with updated references to standards including the QAA 2026 Benchmark Statement.
• Connect current policy debates to practice, including austerity, adult social care personalisation, youth marginalisation, privatisation and welfare pressures.
• Strengthen your critical thinking, social justice perspective and leadership skills.
• Apply social policy knowledge to better understand poverty, inequality, discrimination, marginalisation and structural disadvantage in practice.

Jo Cunningham was a Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire and programme leader of the BA Social Work. Jo taught sociology and social work practice for a number of years. Before commencing her lecturing career, Jo was a social worker in the area of children and families. Her research interests included childhood accidents and child death, and more recently the practice implications of asylum policy for professionals, children and their families.

Steve Cunningham is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Central Lancashire. He has taught sociology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level for 27 years. His research interests are focused on welfare history, poverty and social security, the sociology of welfare and children’s political activism. He is the author of numerous publications in these areas.

Alice O′Sullivan is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Social Care at Leeds Beckett University.  She has taught on range of undergraduate and postgraduate social work, social science and social care programmes since 2010. Her teaching interests centre upon sociology, social policy and social justice. Before becoming a lecturer, Alice was a social worker working with children and families.