Training for Uncertainty: A Sociological Approach to Social Work Education

Taking a sociological approach that stresses the dynamic interaction between teachers and students, Brian Heraud, in his book Training for Uncertainty (originally published in 1981), explores the process by which students are prepared for a professional role.

At the heart of this process, he argues, there are numerous uncertainties, expressed primarily in terms of the often-polarised objectives of students and staff. He traces the development of social work education and goes on to analyse the disparate attitudes among staff, the way in which these influence the selection of students, and their manifestation in the subsequent conflict in role-playing and choice of role models experienced by those students. The final part of the book is devoted to showing how students overcome such conflicts and prepare themselves for the transition from education to profession. This volume will be of interest to students and researchers of sociology and social work.

Brian Heraud was principal lecturer in sociologist at the Polytechnic of North London. He completed his PhD in sociology at the University of London and held research positions at the National Council of Social Service and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. He liked social work and social workers and felt great sympathy with the difficulties and the commitments of the profession.