Cardiff University course director among editors in first handbook dedicated to social work in Wales

Social Work (MA) programme director Abyd Quinn Aziz is among the editor group who helped deliver Wales’ first-ever social work handbook.

The editing team, comprising leading social work figures at Cardiff University, Swansea University, and Wrexham Glyndwr, have produced a book essential for practising social workers and students in Wales.

Social Work in Wales is the first book to offer an in-depth study of various aspects of current social work practice in Wales.

It brings together a range of voices including academics, carers, students and people who use services to find out what makes the Welsh social work context unique.

Of the book’s publication, Abyd said, "Writing the book allowed us to enable diverse voices to talk about their experience and to celebrate where we have reached in the social work journey in Wales, while recognising what more is to be done."

With a foreword from First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, the contributors explore context, examples of practice and current challenges facing the sector.

Covering the subject knowledge required by the Welsh regulator Social Care Wales, each chapter examines distinctive aspects of ‘the Welsh way’ that provides the bedrock to the nation’s approach to social work.

The book considers the implications for practice, signposting to key resources for further independent exploration of the topics covered.

Contributors include the coproduction group and the Social Work (MA) teaching team.

Senior lecturer Dan Burrows has written about unpaid carers and Reader David Wilkins on child and family social work in Wales. Sarah Jane Waters, chair of the Social Work (MA) Co-production Group outlines service user involvement, with a focus on the Cardiff University programme.

The book, published by Policy Press, is available for purchase from 27 June 2023.