Social work

Social Work: Voices from the Inside offers unique insight into social work from the perspectives of those ‘on the inside’, that is, service users, carers and practitioners.

Drawing on a narrative tradition, fifty-nine people from across the UK tell their stories about how and why social work came into their lives, and what happened next. Key topics are discussed, including:

children and family social work

criminal justice social work

mental health social work

residential child care

social work with disabled people

social work with older people

lessons for the future.

Focusing on issues for good practice in social work and social work education, this book is essential reading for students and academics of social work and social policy. It will also appeal to social work professionals and those in allied health, education and care areas.

Viviene Cree is Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Cree's research expertise is in the core discipline of social work, with particular experience in the development of the social work profession, historically and in the present day. She has carried out a range of research projects on social work history, social work education, and children's services.

Ann Davis is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at the University of Birmingham and Chair of the Institute of Applied Social Studies' mental health research programme. Professor Davis' research interests include user experiences of social work and mental health services, poverty and social exclusion, and community care.