Tony Evans is a registered social worker and has practiced as a mental health social worker. He is Professor of Social Work in the University of London and Head of the Department of social work at Royal Holloway University of London. His research explores the intersection of policy, professional practice and ethics. His published work has focused on the analysis of professional discretion in the context of managerialised public services, moral economies of practice, professional expertise and judgement. He has recently edited [with Fabian Kessl] a special issue of the European Journal of Social Work on travelling knowledge in Social Work.
Social policy is central to social work practice. This textbook is designed to help students, practitioners and academics think critically about the relationship between policy and practice; particularly in how policy both structures and informs practice. Reflective questions help critical thinking and links to websites of substantive information across the UK and internationally help keep you up-to-date with policy developments. The authors' experience and skills in working with different service user groups combine to provide a constructive and critical approach to working with social policy in an era of welfare retrenchment. Key topics include: discretion and practice; social work training and education; safeguarding children; responses to the needs of looked after children; personalization in adult care; ’race’ and welfare policy; domestic violence; mental health and capacity; and comparing social work and social care internationally.
