"Payne's book contains a wealth of knowledge and thought provoking discussion to stimulate a timely rekindling of debate about the nature of social work." Community Care Review of first edition: "This book is the best available general description of the increasingly complex environments the modern social worker operates in, and the roles that have to be taken on. The analysis will be extremely useful for students and indeed for practitioners who feel adrift from a value base." Community Care Review of first edition: "Of great interest both for professionals, for educators in social work and for scientists who want to develop knowledge in, about and for social work. I recommend this book to all interested in a better understanding of social work, both as an academic activity and as a profession." Scandinavian Journal of Social Welfare Review of the first edition: "The book presents an overview which should be useful particularly for students on post-qualifying social work courses." Professional Social Work "This book is well-informed and wide-ranging, strong on historical and international perspectives, has conceptual clarity and creativeness, and a topical, contemporary relevance. In other words, it is the type of text that should be the foundation of the new social work degree, challenging and informing our thinking." PLUS, Nov 2006 "Always easy to read for students, clearly structured and particularly relevant" Rachel Good, Staffordshire University