People in society

Abstract

The aim of this book is to increase understanding of people, the kind of problems they encounter, the situations in which they live and the welfare provision which exists to help. People whose work involves caring for others have to be able to demonstrate an almost instant understanding of a variety of human predicaments and problems. Nursery nurses will be told that a new child is expected at the nursery tomorrow, social workers will be asked to visit new clients, residential care workers will have to welcome new people into the home. In each of these situations, which are everyday events for caring workers, strangers are meeting and one will be expecting a great deal from the other. An understanding of society and social problems can provide a background of knowledge for dealing with such circumstances. The questions which make up the first section of this chapter give an idea of the way this book approaches individual and social problems.