Using the Law in Social Work

Familiarity with law, legislation and legal processes is fundamental to sound social work practice. This book both undergraduate and postgraduate social work students gain this foothold in understanding law as it applies to social work practice. A core function of social work is to assist, empower, and protect the most vulnerable in society, requiring social workers to often make decisions in complex and challenging situations. This book helps social workers understand their statutory duties, keep up to date with relevant law, legislation and legal processes and learn how to apply this knowledge to social work practice. Using jargon-free language, it provides a grounding in legally appropriate, rights-based social work across services for children and families and child protection, adult care law, youth justice, court work, professional regulation and human rights.