An understanding of social policy is crucial for social workers as it underpins and shapes the legislative framework that they work within. From safeguarding service users and enabling them to improve their lives, to protecting the most vulnerable in society, social policy also has a vital role to play within social work education. It is important therefore for students to engage critically with social policy. This book introduces policy and shows how it has changed and evolved over time, how it reflects changes in society and how it is applied to everyday practice.

Jo Cunningham is a Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire and programme leader of the BA Social Work. Jo has taught sociology and social work practice for a number of years. Before commencing her lecturing career, Jo was a social worker in the area of children and families. Research interests include childhood accidents and child death, and more recently the practice implications of asylum policy for professionals, children and their families.

Introduction
Social policy and social work
The development of social policy and social work in the nineteenth century.
Ideology, social policy and social work
Social democracy and the development of social policy and social work after 1945
Neo-liberalism and the development of social policy and social work after 1979
Marxism, Social Policy and Social Work
Children, social policy and social work
Youth, social policy, social work and the crisis of youth'
Adults, social policy and social work: The personalisation agenda
Ageing, social policy and social work
Conclusion