The genesis of this book was a casual suggestion at a meeting of the Social Work History Network. Why don't we do something to mark 50 years since BASW was formed in 1970, the Local Authority Social Services Act was passed and a unified social work training was about to be introduced? And this book is the something.

Perhaps I should clarify what it is not. It is not an official history, nor even an unofficial history of the last 50 years. It presents different perspectives on the evolution of social work during that period and reflects the views and stances of individual contributors. It looks at current trends and what they mean for the future direction of social work. It is predominantly about England and Wales, which have been more subject to government intervention than the other countries of the UK, but marked divergence in Scotland and Northern Ireland is noted.

Austerity is a theme running through the contributions. Its impact on many social work clients has been dire both in financial terms, with benefits frozen, and in the reduction in public services as budget cuts have taken hold. But it would be naive to expect the ‘New Jerusalem’ to be round the corner, just as the hopes of 1970 were never fully realised.

Keith Bilton reminds us of the fragmentation of social work in the years leading up to 1970. His perspective is fascinating, as he was a participant in the discussions leading to the establishment of BASW and served as secretary of the Seebohm Implementation Action Group. His Chapter 1 is a salutary reminder of the tortuous negotiations that were eventually to make 1970 a landmark year in the development of social work.

Chapter 2, on social services departments, poses the question whether they were a success or failure. Certainly they put social services at the top table in local government and for a short period they grew very rapidly. The 1975 financial crisis put the brakes on, just as the 2008 financial crash led to the years of austerity. In terms of services, much was achieved, but in terms of the promotion of good social work practice, the verdict is mixed.