Introduction

You will be introduced to features of the Welsh context that will develop your understanding of what it means to be an effective practitioner in Wales. As you study, you will develop an understanding of devolution and the impact of this on legislation, policy, and ultimately on social work practice in Wales. You will also consider some important aspects of language need and language choice. You will be introduced to some of the roles and tasks are undertaken by practitioners, how these are informed by legislation and social policy, and how they are underpinned by the codes of practice and the professional value base.

Respecting the individuality of each person is a central value of social work but, as the term suggests, social work is not only about individual perspectives: it also takes place in a social context. Society, demography, geography, national legislation, national policy, and language all play an important part, both in the lives of service users and carers and in the practice of social work practitioners.