Introduction

There are many reasons why social workers are the target of abuse or criticism. Many members of the public believe that the 'Welfare State' was created to be a panacea for all social ills. They believe that large social service departments are financed by heavy taxation and at the cost of diminishing earnings for themselves. They have high expectations of the 'productivity' of social workers so that all manner of deprivations are seen to be their province. Functions of neighbourliness are now believed to be the responsibility of the 'welfare', visiting the old and infirm the responsibility of the social services. The situation of public apathy and ignorance is not of the public's own making. Social workers have a responsibility to communicate the nature of their task because they are employed under 'social' auspices. The smug sanctimoniousness of helper or brisk certainty of the busybody are not proper models for social work - patience and rigour are more useful characteristics.