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Research in Social Work

Series Editors: Anna Gupta, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK and John Gal, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

Published by the European Social Work Research Association and Policy Press, the Research in Social Work series is a collection of the best research on social work in Europe.

Books in the series examine current, progressive and innovative research applications of familiar ideas and models in social work research. This leading research collection for social work academics, researchers and practitioners makes a unique contribution to the academic and professional development of social work in Europe.

Call for proposals

Series Editors, Anna Gupta and John Gal are inviting proposals for books drawing on original and cutting-edge research and which aim to influence social work academia and practice. The editors are particularly keen to receive submissions for comparative books on the practice of social work research, which engage with international research literature.

If you are interested in discussing ideas or submitting a proposal, please contact:

Anna Gupta, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK Anna.Gupta@rhul.ac.uk, John Gal, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel john.gal@mail.huji.ac.il and Isobel Bainton, Commissioning Editor, Isobel.Bainton@bristol.ac.uk.

You can find out more about writing for Bristol University Press and Policy Press on our Information for authors page.


Editorial advisory board:

  • Andrés Arias Astray, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
  • Isobel Bainton, Policy Press, UK
  • Inge Bryderup, Aalborg University, Denmark
  • Tony Evans, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
  • Hannele Forsberg, University of Tampere, Finland
  • John Gal, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
  • Anna Gupta, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
  • Todd I. Herrenkohl, University of Michigan, US
  • Ephrat Huss, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
  • Stefan Köngeter, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Science (OST), Switzerland
  • Manohar Pawar, Charles Sturt University, Australia
  • Ian Shaw, National University of Singapore and University of York, UK
  • Alessandro Sicora, University of Trento, Italy
  • Darja Zaviršek, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Showing 1-12 of 13 items.

When Social Workers Impact Policy and Don’t Just Implement It

A Framework for Understanding Policy Engagement

Rather than being seen simply as social policy implementors, in recent decades there has been recognition of the unique insights that social workers can bring to policy formulation. This book offers a theoretical framework for understanding why social workers engage in policy, and the implications for research, education and practice.

Policy Press

Social Work Research Using Arts-Based Methods

Edited by Ephrat Huss and Eltje Bos

In the first dedicated analysis of its kind, international experts review the rationale and results of arts-based approaches to research, teaching, and practice in social work. The book presents examples of their use and methods to evaluate and theorise results and shows how arts can form outputs from research too.

Policy Press

Social Work and the Making of Social Policy

Bringing together international case studies, this book offers theoretical and empirical insights into the interaction between social work and social policy.

Policy Press

Social Work and Social Innovation

Emerging Trends and Challenges for Practice, Policy and Education in Europe

Policy Press

The Settlement House Movement Revisited

A Transnational History

This book provides a historical approach to the study of the Settlement House movement in relation to developments in social welfare and the profession of social work across a range of nations.

Policy Press

Research and the Social Work Picture

Drawing on evidence from across Europe, Asia and the USA, this accessible book covers how social workers can engage with research and draw on it in practice.

Policy Press

The Origins of Social Care and Social Work

Creating a Global Future

Acknowledging the religious influences in social work’s roots, Mark Henrickson proposes that it need not be constrained by it. Addressing current debates in international social work about the relevance of different perspectives, this book will allow practitioners and scholars to create a global future of social work.

Policy Press

Migration and Social Work

Approaches, Visions and Challenges

With cross-cultural perspectives from eight European countries, this book provides much-needed research on migration and social work. Focusing on the experiences and integration of refugees and asylum seekers, the text considers the impact of EU policies on borders and integration, and the rise of racism across European societies.

Policy Press

Living on the Edge

Innovative Research on Leaving Care and Transitions to Adulthood

Addressing previously neglected groups of care leavers such as unaccompanied migrants, street youth, young parents and those with a disability, this book considers the precarity often experienced by many care leavers. It makes research relevant to practitioners and policy-makers aiming to enable, rather than label, vulnerable groups.

Policy Press

Involving Service Users in Social Work Education, Research and Policy

A Comparative European Analysis

Based on the results of a European Social Fund project, this book critically appraises the benefits and challenges of involving service users in social work research, practice and education.

Policy Press

Interprofessional Collaboration and Service User Participation

Analysing Meetings in Social Welfare

This book examines how interprofessional collaboration and service user participation are challenged in multi-agency meetings, demonstrating how collaborative and integrated welfare policy is contingent on the interactional practices of professionals and service users and providing examples of best practice.

Policy Press

Critical Gerontology for Social Workers

This original collection explores how critical gerontology can make sense of old age inequalities to inform social work research, policy and practice. Engaging with key debates on age-related human rights, the conceptual focus addresses the current challenges and opportunities facing those who work with older people.

Policy Press