Based on research conducted in India, this book takes a fresh look at the profession of social work to arrive at a better understanding of its professional character and to increase its effectiveness in helping people. The book highlights the inability of social work educators to come to terms with a lucid definition of social work, clearly demarcating the scope and role of social work. The basic expertise of social workers consists of their understanding of human relationships, as well as the social and psychological environment that structure these. The strategies of dealing with these human relationships, particularly at the community and societal level, are more complex in nature, and hence require greater persistence. These, therefore, should not be clubbed with dealing with face-to-face relationships in families and other smaller groups, where a more definite timeframe is possible for dealing with these. Both require very different knowledge inputs to provide effective professional expertise and skills for social work practitioners. Subject: Social Work]