Introduction: Setting the Scene

Much has been written in recent years about what social work is and indeed what it is not. There have been careful and systematic attempts to map out its territory, and these have been met by polemics suggesting that social work cannot do haft what it claims to do; indeed its ultimate survival has been questioned. However, while recognising that there is therefore much dispute over the nature of social work, this is no place to pursue such disputes. Instead a brief description of what the term ‘social work’ means as used here will be outlined and this will then be related to current issues including the relationship between theory and practice, the role of social work and its relationship to disabled clients.