The final part of this book presents contemporary challenges and emerging areas of practice for social workers. Its coverage is by no means exhaustive and there are challenges for social work that are not addressed in this part, such as dementia, a global health and social welfare challenge. The chapters provide an introduction to some of the pressing challenges for social work practice in the UK: insecurity, migration, child sexual abuse and exploitation, addiction and radicalisation.

All of these issues and their associated factors – with the exception of radicalisation and insecurity – have long presented a challenge to social work practitioners. Attitudes and responses to these issues have adapted in response to the changing socio-political and economic landscape in the UK. These changes are addressed in the following chapters.

Radicalisation and insecurity are presented as new, emerging areas for social work practice. The increase in religious radicalisation is a challenge for both the adult and children's social care sectors. For example, encouraging children and young people to become radicalised is now recognised as a safeguarding issue for children, and local authorities have developed relevant policies and procedures for social workers and other professionals in response.

Insecurity relates to poverty and inequality and refers to a situation where individuals and families cannot be certain from one month to the next if they can afford basic human needs, such as food, housing and warmth. This is reflected in the increase in food and fuel poverty and homelessness in the UK since 2010.

The authors of the chapters present critical discussions on the changing practice context in their respective service areas. Their discussions are underpinned by a left-leaning approach, which is congruent with the core values of social work, namely social justice, empowerment and equality. These values are embedded in the International Federation of Social Work's definition of social work: