This timely book represents an exploratory conversation among social work academics about the current state and future aspirations of the discipline and the profession. It will stimulate wider debate about the dominant constraints and opportunities for social work in the 21st century. 'This important book...is extremely timely. [It] successfully troubles the relationships between theory, practice and research as conventionally conceived. The chapters are also soundly related to policy and practice and the book's aim to make good a deficit in theoretical and conceptual debate about social work is certainly achieved, with scholarly contributions from some of the best thinkers and researchers in the field.' Professor Susan White, University of Huddersfield, UK 'This book brings together leading writers and researchers to develop a 21st-century critical analysis of where social work stands. It shows how social work practice intersects with public policy to form the profession, and with research to form the discipline. The different chapters rigorously interrogate the impact of developments in social science to position social work in current intellectual identity.' Professor Malcolm Payne, Director of Psycho-Social and Spiritual Care, St Christopher's Hospice, UK '...this book offers a thorough discussion of the changing nature of the social work profession and discipline. It is a useful book in allowing students to engage with core debates and develop their own thinking about the fundamental questions of the nature of the social work activity....excellent in assisting the preparation of students in becoming free and critical thinkers who question and challenge seemingly simple and pragmatic government solutions to people's problems.' Child and Family Social Work '...of great interest to all social workers and essential reading for all of those actively engaged in, or considering engagement in, social work research.' Social Work Review 'There is much here that will be of interest to social work scholars and researchers, and the book deserves to be widely read.' Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare 'The ten chapters in this edited book are well written and demonstrate an extensive knowledge of the social wor