Critical and intersectional approaches in social policy: uses for social work

Joe Whelan

Chapter 4 in Handbook on Intersectionality and Social Work, 2026, pp 53-64 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter seeks to explore social policy and its application to social work through an intersectional lens. It will first sketch out how an intersectional approach to social policy can offer both an analytical framework and a useful lens to develop more diverse approaches to the doing of policy. It will then focus on social work. Social work, as both an academic discipline in its own right and as a practical and applied professional activity, takes a lead from and intersects with social policy. Indeed, many of the sites of social work scholarship and practice are adjacent to and prescribed by social policies. Therefore, and building on earlier analysis, attention will turn to how an intersectional approach to social policy can both inform and enhance social work practice through an alignment of values and core social work concerns.

Keywords: Intersectionality; Social Policy; Social Work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035324453
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