ABSTRACT
Developing social work practice is a complex and challenging activity. That will be a consistent theme of this book, and this first chapter not only lays much of the groundwork as to why it is complex and challenging, but also describes some key elements that need to be present for the sound development of practice. The importance of service users’ and carers’ views, the role of science and evidence, and the need to take full account of the diversity of people’s lives are all covered here. The origins and basic outline of taskcentred practice are presented, together with the ways that this model may be developed, with the challenges and opportunities that are offered to such a development.
