First published in 1978, Social Work in Britain, 1950–1975, a two-volume work, describes and analyzes the main developments in the education and employment of social workers during the twenty-five years 1950–75. These developments are placed within the context of unprecedented rapid change within both the statutory and voluntary social services. This book examines in detail every aspect and method of contemporary social work, including childcare, probation and prison welfare, medical social work, family casework, residential care, psychiatric social work, services for the elderly and the handicapped, education welfare, the youth service, group work, and community work. Above all, it evaluates the nature of the changes that occurred and the response of a young and emerging profession to these developments: to structural changes in the social services resulting from the Kilbrandon and Seebohm reports; to the changing role of voluntary agencies and the growing use of volunteers; to the growth of professional associations; to the massive increases in the number of those undergoing training and education in the universities, polytechnics and colleges; and to the development of new theories of social work and of social work research. Throughout the book, Dame Eileen compares and contrasts the achievements, problems, and outlook of the 1950s with the mid-1970s. This is a unique and comprehensive study based on first-hand knowledge, wide reading, and considerable consultation with key people in the public and voluntary services, the training councils and in the field. It will be an invaluable resource for social workers, administrators, social work educators and researchers of social work.
