Social Work and Social Innovation: Emerging Trends and Challenges for Practice, Policy and Education in Europe

Written by leading experts from across Europe, this book provides a grounded exploration of innovation in the practice, research and education of social work. It focuses on the role of participation, collaboration and co-creation as key drivers of social innovation within these fields, providing practical examples of social entrepreneurship, people-centred design and participatory led innovation.

The positive outcomes of local social innovations are analysed in the wider European framework, with reflections and recommendations for advancing innovation in policy, service provision, education and research.

Jean Pierre Wilken is Professor of Social Work at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Netherlands, Professor Community Development and Well-Being at Tartu University, Estonia and Visiting Professor Relational Social Work at the Catholic University of Milan, Italy. Anne Parpan-Blaser is Professor at the School for Social Work of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. Sarah Prosser is CEO of Prosser Projects, and lecturer at VID University of Applied Sciences, Norway. Suzan van der Pas is Professor Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Leiden University of Applied Sciences. Erik Jansen is Professor Social Sustainable Practices at HAN University of Applied Sciences.