Going Local explains how social work students and practitioners can develop approaches to neighbourhood work, to engage communities and neighbourhoods more purposefully and to work with citizens and other mainstream and community service providers to build the capacity of neighbourhoods to tackle social problems on their own. Each chapter includes objectives and key points, as well as case studies and activities where appropriate, and the topics discussed include:

• what we can learn from past social work practice
• principles, skills and tools to enhance local working
• joined up practice
• care and services for children, families, young people, older people and other vulnerable adults
• social cohesion and the role of practitioners in overcoming local religious and ethnic division.

Going Local will appeal to practitioners working in neighbourhood based services, and is essential reading for students of social work, youth and community work, and probation work.

'A highly readable and easily understood account of the basics of community and neighbourhood practice, both conceptually and in terms of practice within specific fields (children and families, young people and anti-social behaviour, older people, and work with people of different faiths and ethnicity).' - British Journal of Social Work

John Pierson was formerly Senior Lecturer in social work and applied social studies at Staffordshire University. He now works as a policy analyst and teaches part time in the Creative Communities Unit at Staffordshire University, UK.