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.