ABSTRACT
Thecentralaimofthischapteristofocusonwhatweseeasanincreasingly paradoxicalfeatureofsocialworkintheUK.Essentiallytheparadoxrecognises thatthecoreskillsassociatedwithsocialwork-creative,interpersonal,interactive, andconcernedwithnegotiatingandmediatingoverissuesofinterdependence, powerandobligation-havesomehowcometobeatadiscountinpracticein public-sectorsocialworkagencies,yetindemandinotheragenciesand organisations,evenincludingotherbranchesofthepublicservices.Itisasif public-sectorsocialworkersarebecominglittlemorethanorganisational functionariesin'theirown'agencies,beingsubjectto(oftenseeminglyalien) assessment,auditandinspection,alongwithincreasingmanagerialoversight;yet inotherkindsofpublic-sectororganisations,andinthevoluntarysector,their capacities,principles,ethicsandapproachesareatapremium,andadoptedor borrowedbyotheroccupationalgroups(Jordan,2000;PartonandO'Byme,2000).
