"Principled, pluralistic and humane - rather than utopian or absolute - it is the forgotten script of the twentieth-century Labour Party." John Bew, Citizen Clem Clement Attlee presided over Britain's first socialist government, ushering in radical domestic reforms - from the creation of the National Health Service to the nationalisation of the railways. In 1920, however, Attlee returned from service in the Great War and resumed his pre-war social work in East London, whilst organising the increasingly powerful Labour Party. Attlee was a politician honing his voice and philosophy. Attlee's The Social Worker is a manifestation of an intellectual idea about social work that critiqued the Victorian charitable approach, which focused on individual character rather than the structure of society. The manifesto is a blend of Attlee's socialist politics with its advocacy of increased government involvement. The book also reflects his profound belief in the importance of practical action for helping the disadvantaged. Attlee's ideal social worker is neither the aloof and abstract theorist, nor the complacent and condescending philanthropist, but a multi-faceted individual who can agitate for social reform whilst volunteering one's time and money for those less fortunate. The Social Worker is a powerful call to arms for improving society, written with Attlee's characteristic compassion and thoughtfulness. This classic work is a must read for those interested in socialism, the Labour Party and how societies and individuals can make a difference. Clement Attlee was born in 1883 and served as British Prime Minister 1945 - 1951. He is also the author of As It Happened and Empire into Commonwealth, also published by Sharpe Books. Praise for The Social Worker "The Social Worker is a concise work that proposes solutions, based not on abstract theory but, as the reader grasps from the first pages, on Attlee's own experience." Michael Jago, Clement Attlee: The Inevitable Prime Minister "... a clear statement of the principles which were to underlay the creation of the welfare state by the Attlee government a quarter of a century later." Francis Beckett, Clem Attlee: Labour's Great Reformer

Social work deals with the heavy end of human difficulties such as cruelty, self-destructiveness, and severe and enduring mental health problems. How do social workers make sense of the emotional difficulties which come with the realities of practice? Understanding our clients is the best way of dealing with complex situations and avoiding burnout and stress. The contributors to this book argue that psychoanalysis provides a theory of development and behaviour capable of formulating a realistic model for understanding emotional difficulties and disturbances in both clients and ourselves. The chapters demonstrate a way of thinking for the practitioner that can be used in all situations. The book examines in detail some of the difficult and disturbing conversations that social workers have with clients of all ages. It provides a psychoanalytic framework for understanding circumstances which may be puzzling, stressful or frightening, and a theory whose value for many social work problems is well underpinned by research evidence. Written by senior practitioners who are all still working in the front line, this book puts complex real life experiences into words, to help the social worker become a more effective practitioner.