Social work is facing fundamental changes and challenges. Neo-liberalism, globalization, corporate management and the mixed economy of welfare have transformed the profession by undermining former certainties of practice. 'Clients' have added their own voice to the need for new models of service delivery. Social Work engages with the dilemmas and opportunities emanating from the contested nature of practice. Using a broad range of theories, this book outlines the knowledge, skills and values that enable practitioners to respond more effectively to the demands of working in fluid and...

Women have long been the mainstay of communities and heavily involved in community initiatives in various guises. Though often the unsung heros of community action, women's role in a community's growth and development has become increasingly important in a globalising world that has changed considerably since the first edition of this classic text was published. In Britain, for example, women are making a vital contribution to New Labour's 'regeneration strategies' in local communities and central to the social inclusion agenda. Women are also central to sustainable development projects in...