Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the policy its direction of travel and implications for practice. Without knowledge of policy and the way it affects people, practice becomes cut off from those forces that are constantly working to reshape it. Social workers work every day with the socially excluded and in main the poorest in society. Not only do they help users resolve problems of living but they are also the close-up witness to deprivation and inequality all around them of people shorn of defences, resources, skills, hope, self-respect, dignity. This book focuses on the role that social workers occupy as both support and witness to those who are at greatest disadvantage. It urges social workers to think hard about inequalities and poverty in our society and what they can do about it. Social exclusion links the majority of social work service users.