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This chapter introduces the values, ethics, and practices that comprise social work, and examines the profession's rich history of working to improve the lives of individuals and to create a more just society. It includes a historical summary of some of the major events that have shaped the profession, and then explores ethics and values as the foundation of social work practice. The chapter also examines the proliferation of various social work contexts and roles, and some of the major concepts such as empowerment and resilience that are keys to contemporary social work. Finally the chapter turns to the future of social work and some of the issues that will shape the profession in coming years. It offers a way to appreciate how social work and restorative justice practices share some common ground, while maintaining unique practice positions.

This chapter explores social work values. These values, such as promoting social justice, are considered key to this occupational group. Many of the chapter's interviewees seem to share similar values; however, these values sometimes seem to vary culturally and geographically. International social work espouses additional values by placing an emphasis on globalisation and international development. In addition, the chapter is concerned with what happens when social workers fail to live up to their professional standards, and what sanctions may be applied. Here, the chapter draws upon published research as well as data from the author's own studies into recent, publicly available material on social workers' processes of deregistration and other sanctions. The chapter ends with a look ahead to the imminent establishment of the new social work regulator for England, Social Work England.

This chapter considers whether tensions between social work values and the reality of expected practice in criminal justice social work (CJSW) in Scotland, might cause ethical stress or ‘disjuncture’ for social workers. The factors which might contribute to ‘disjuncture’ are explored in terms of the history and development of CJSW, especially in relation to the erosion of the position and importance of traditional welfare and ‘helping’ work, and the rise of public protection. The chapter will also examine the effect of the ‘doubly-marginalised’ position of CJSW (McNeill et al, 2010, p37) in relation to CJSW interface with wider social work department values, and with the legal world of the courts.

This chapter discusses the values and principles vital for shaping how community social work practice is carried out when addressing Latino small businesses. The four key values in implementing community social work practice are social justice, self-determination, community well-being, and community assets. With regards to practice principles, five are derived from a variety of scholarly and practices sources. First, all communities, regardless of socioeconomic circumstances, possess inherent assets. Second, communities must play influential roles in the decision making process pertaining to intervention goals. Third, communities are the best experts on their conditions and circumstances. Fourth, Latino small businesses must be viewed from a multifaceted perspective that stresses economic/operational, cultural, and social capital dimensions. Finally, sustainable community-focused initiatives in support of Latino small businesses are best achieved through meaningful collaboration. These values and principles take on a synergistic effect when all of them are present and interacting with one another.

Every year, a number of social workers who have studied and obtained their qualifications abroad immigrate to Canada. They do so to start a new life and pursue their careers in one of the Canadian provinces (Brown et al, 2015; Pullen Sansfaçon et al, 2012). However, even with the ‘Global Qualifying Standards’ (International Federation of Social Workers [IFSW], 2015), a document that recognises the increased labour mobility within the profession and aims for consistency within and between the different qualifications, social work still needs to adapt to local variations and is considered highly dependent on the cultural and socio-political context where it is practised (Fouché et al, 2013; Beddoe et al, 2012; Hussein et al, 2010; Welbourne et al, 2007). This specific social work imperative led us to investigate the processes by which transnational social workers adapt to new work contexts in Canada and, more specifically, to explore issues related to knowledge transfer in different practice contexts, and to further investigate how social workers really adapt to local variations.

“Recruitment to the Profession” discusses the key role that nonprofit camps have long played in the recruitment of new social workers. Early efforts were uneven and uncoordinated. During the 1950s and 1960s, shortages in the field impelled recruitment efforts, culminating in the National Commission for Social Work Careers and its recruitment committees. One such committee and its Summer Experience in Social Work Program are detailed. Camps provided paid summer jobs, supervision, a seminar class, and a final two-day workshop, all with the goal of testing interest in and potential for social work. Social Work Seminar, the recruitment program of Camp Wel-Met, is described. The camp experience along with social work values conveyed by camp staff often inspire or confirm a decision to enter the profession. The chapter concludes with reminiscences from social workers about camp experiences and their choice of social work as a career.