1st Edition
Social Policy for Social Work, Social Care and the Caring Professions Scottish Perspectives
Since devolution in 1999, social policy within Scotland has burgeoned. The Scottish Parliament has a range of powers in relation to key policy areas including social work, education, health, child care, child protection, law and home affairs, and housing. These powers and the existence of a distinct legal tradition in Scotland means that social work practice has developed a distinctive style, attuned to the particular needs of Scotland. Scottish distinctiveness however, has rarely been properly represented in textbooks on either social policy or social work. This innovative text offers comprehensive coverage of the discipline of social policy and its central relevance to social work, social care and related practice in Scotland. Designed to complement teaching and study associated with the new Honours degree in Social Work (Scottish Executive 2003), it fills a notable gap in the literature on this subject and will be essential reading for students, professionals and academics within a variety of health and social care occupations.
Biography
Steve J Hothersall is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. He has previously worked as a manager and practitioner in social work and nursing. His recent publications include Social Work with Children, Young People and their Families in Scotland (2008) and (with Mike Maas-Lowit and Malcolm Golightley) Social Work and Mental Health in Scotland (2008). Janine Bolger is Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the Scottish Institute for Residential Childcare, based at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Prior to entering academia she worked in Child Protection, and was Assistant Principal of a residential special school.
'Students in Scotland need to understand both the framework of policy in the UK and the distinctive approaches to social welfare provision taken in Scotland at national and local levels. In a wide range of fields, it is difficult to read across from texts mainly concerned with Westminster to practice in Scotland. A study of Scottish policy is therefore an essential complement to other readings in Social Policy.' Paul Spicker, The Robert Gordon University, UK 'This is a comprehensive and well-written text by a group of authors who bring both academic and practical experience to their contributions. The work covers key issues which inform and shape social policy and, thereby, social work and the caring professions. And, while the Scottish perspective is central it is nonetheless placed firmly and appropriately in a wider context.' John Stewart, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK 'The breadth of this project is quite extensive as the authors cover both the history of social work and the structure and branches of the current practice. ... the authors [...] have created a volume where each individual essay provides a detailed examination of a branch of social policy or social work, while the monograph as a whole is an excellent introductory text on the history of the Scottish policies and practices of the 'Caring Professions'... As well as being [...] an instructional text, Social Policy for Social Work is a fine scholarly work that contributes to both the historical and contemporary literature on social work... offers a solid basis for a trans-national approach to the practices and ideologies of social policy... a useful addition to the historiography on social work and the establishment of the welfare state.' International Review of Scottish Studies '... well organised, comprehensive and imaginative in places... It is a considerable achievement to have compiled this work from the resources of a single university team, and it will be a valuable introduction and ref
