Social Work: A Very Short Introduction

In this Very Short Introduction Sally Holland and Jonathan Scourfield explain what social work is and the range of cases it deals with. Looking at its history and main debates, as well as the theories and methods of social work, they include a range of case studies from around the world.

Sally Holland is a Professor of Social Work at Cardiff University and the Director of the CASCADE (Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre). She teaches qualifying social workers in the MA and PhD social work programs. She also carries out research on all aspects of children's social work. Before becoming an academic she worked in a range of social work settings, including residential child care, with street homeless people, as a local authority children's social worker, and in a family center.

Jonathan Scourfield is a Professor of Social Work at Cardiff University. His research covers child welfare, children's identities, and suicide prevention; and he also has a long-standing interest in social work with men. He teaches Masters and PhD students in social work. Before becoming an academic he worked as a history teacher, a probation officer, and a group worker in a therapeutic community for people with drug and alcohol problems.