John H. Pierson – författare

This book provides an overview of the main developments in social work over its 200-year history. From its beginnings in the early 19th century through to the present day, it recounts the efforts to create a fairer, socially just society through its work with individuals and families.

Throughout, by focusing on individual cases as well as major ideas behind practice, this book invites the reader to step into the practitioner’s world as it unfolded. Providing a fresh, critical history of social work in Britain, the book covers the practical assistance for families and individuals in poverty in the 19th century; women’s social work with destitute mothers and children; social work’s response to war time needs; the development of specific domains of social work such as hospital social work, psychiatric social workers, moral welfare and children in care; tackling racism; and social work in a market society. The reader encounters the society that social workers and their users wrote about, thought about and sought to create. Covering critical points of dispute along with overarching visions that would take the profession – and society – forward, the book explores the ideologies, moral constructs and social forces that shaped everyday social work.

A New History of Social Work will be of interest to all scholars and students of social work and will be particularly relevant for modules on introductions to social work and the foundations of social work.

This book provides an overview of the main developments in social work over its 200-year history. From its beginnings in the early 19th century through to the present day, it recounts the efforts to create a fairer, socially just society through its work with individuals and families.

Throughout, by focusing on individual cases as well as major ideas behind practice, this book invites the reader to step into the practitioner’s world as it unfolded. Providing a fresh, critical history of social work in Britain, the book covers the practical assistance for families and individuals in poverty in the 19th century; women’s social work with destitute mothers and children; social work’s response to war time needs; the development of specific domains of social work such as hospital social work, psychiatric social workers, moral welfare and children in care; tackling racism; and social work in a market society. The reader encounters the society that social workers and their users wrote about, thought about and sought to create. Covering critical points of dispute along with overarching visions that would take the profession – and society – forward, the book explores the ideologies, moral constructs and social forces that shaped everyday social work.

A New History of Social Work will be of interest to all scholars and students of social work and will be particularly relevant for modules on introductions to social work and the foundations of social work.

In highly unequal Britain, poverty and social exclusion continue to dominate the lives of users of social work and social care services. At the same time, years of austerity combined with welfare reform have changed the context in which services are delivered in a society roiled by Brexit, Covid, Black Lives Matter and women rallying under the banner, “Me‑too”.

This fourth edition lays out the ways and means for practitioners to tackle the deprivation and destitution of service users. Fully revised and expanded, it introduces new material that tracks changes and developments in policy and practice. Statutes, benefit rules and relevant research are discussed as part of the necessary knowledge base for practitioners. Greater attention than in previous editions is paid to: local authority commissioning, the impact of social media on the mental health of young people, substandard housing and working with transgender youth.

Preparing practitioners to engage directly with the social and personal circumstances facing excluded individuals and their families, this book explains the development of the concept of social exclusion as a framework for understanding the impact of poverty and other deprivations in users’ lives, and locates that framework within social work values of social justice while acknowledging the many challenges to those values. The focus is on practice throughout with boxed extracts from key policies and guidelines along with questions for readers to ponder through up‑to‑date examples, activities and exercises in each chapter. Case studies from public, private and voluntary sectors are drawn from across the United Kingdom, to illuminate the way forward for poverty‑aware social work.

Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion will be required reading for all BA and MA social work degrees across the United Kingdom.

In highly unequal Britain, poverty and social exclusion continue to dominate the lives of users of social work and social care services. At the same time, years of austerity combined with welfare reform have changed the context in which services are delivered in a society roiled by Brexit, Covid, Black Lives Matter and women rallying under the banner, “Me‑too”.

This fourth edition lays out the ways and means for practitioners to tackle the deprivation and destitution of service users. Fully revised and expanded, it introduces new material that tracks changes and developments in policy and practice. Statutes, benefit rules and relevant research are discussed as part of the necessary knowledge base for practitioners. Greater attention than in previous editions is paid to: local authority commissioning, the impact of social media on the mental health of young people, substandard housing and working with transgender youth.

Preparing practitioners to engage directly with the social and personal circumstances facing excluded individuals and their families, this book explains the development of the concept of social exclusion as a framework for understanding the impact of poverty and other deprivations in users’ lives, and locates that framework within social work values of social justice while acknowledging the many challenges to those values. The focus is on practice throughout with boxed extracts from key policies and guidelines along with questions for readers to ponder through up‑to‑date examples, activities and exercises in each chapter. Case studies from public, private and voluntary sectors are drawn from across the United Kingdom, to illuminate the way forward for poverty‑aware social work.

Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion will be required reading for all BA and MA social work degrees across the United Kingdom.