Written for those in the early stages of a social work degree or considering social work as a career, the second edition of this well-regarded book has been updated to reflect the major changes in social work in light of the Children Act 2004 together with the new set of arrangements for planning, regulation and quality assurance. It gives an overview of the history of social work from the Middle Ages to its complex structure today and case studies, research summaries and activities encourage readers to reflect on the skills and knowledge required by today's social worker.