The book provides a historical overview of social work in Britain, tracing its development to enhance understanding of modern practices and the significance of its rapid expansion as a social phenomenon. It delves into the evolution of the field, exploring key changes and their implications for society.
The book features case studies that showcase how community care services effectively support individuals with learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities. It also addresses critical issues related to promoting independent living for these individuals, highlighting best practices and challenges within the community care framework.
First published in 1992. At one level, this book is about the care and education of children with very special needs. The needs result from emotional damage which impinges on their lives both at school and at home. At another level, it is about the development of a holistic approach to education - applicable to all children generally. The first part of the book describes the Raddery experience - a school set up in 1979 based on a holistic and therapeutic community approach to children with special needs. The second part of the book examines the implications of the Raddery experience for educational and child-care policy and practice at a time when there has been growing emphasis on integrating children with special needs into mainstream schools. Are the needs of the children at Raddery very different from others who have been successfully retained in normal classes? If Raddery, and schools like it, have a particular contribution, what is their secret? Can it be shared with ordinary schools?