Applying Social Policy in Social Work Practice

The textbook is designed to prepare students for practice by developing their understanding of how social policy is relevant to people with lived experience of social work intervention. It will provide them with an underpinning knowledge and skills of criticality to prepare them for undertaking social work placements in various settings, enroute to becoming qualified social work practitioners. Understanding social policy is essential for social workers so that they can best understand and, therefore, best support vulnerable groups and vulnerable communities to achieve positive change. Having this understanding is core to the principle of partnership in practice. To enable positive outcomes, social work students need to understand the relevance of social policy to social work practice. This book will present an overview of the historical background of social policy and the ideologies which shaped social policy in social work. Considering Bradshaw’s taxonomy of need, this book will discuss the 5 pillars of social policy: income, health, education, housing and social care services, and how social issues intersect for service users in social work. This book will also include a study skills chapter to support students with their academic studies and to prepare them for placement. Students will use the built-in critical thinking activities such as a ‘test your social policy knowledge’, application of resources and recording the students' reflections at the end of each chapter to reinforce their learning and record how they feel understanding social policy will support them in practice.