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Using the Law in Social Work
Tenth Edition
December 2025 | 280 pages | Learning Matters
A core function of social work is to assist, empower, and protect the most vulnerable in society, requiring social workers to often make decisions in complex and challenging situations. This book helps social workers understand their statutory duties, keep up to date with relevant law, legislation and legal processes and learn how to apply this knowledge to social work practice. Using jargon-free language, it provides a grounding in legally appropriate, rights-based social work across services for children and families and child protection, adult care law, youth justice, court work, professional regulation and human rights.
Chapter 1: But I want to be a social worker, not a lawyer
Chapter 2: Human rights
Chapter 3: Children’s rights and needs
Chapter 4: Meeting children’s needs when things go wrong
Chapter 5: Adult social care
Chapter 6: Adults with additional support needs
Chapter 7: Youth justice
Chapter 8: Ending up in court
Chapter 9: Providing a quality service