Community Work and Politics

Abstract

New Heath is the crumbling area of the city. Built about a hundred years ago, some of it has collapsed, some of it has been bombed flat, and some of it is in a serious state of dilapidation. However, some areas have been looked after: in a few streets, owner-occupiers have retrieved their buildings over the past few years by their own efforts. Philip was appointed as the social worker who would liaise with the City Planning Department in its local plan for the area. This represented half of Philip’s duties, the other half was the work produced by being attached to the team that covered the area. It was a system of employment that he had resented at the outset and one that he had struggled with throughout his work. It was obvious to him why the local authority wanted him employed directly through an area team and into the structure of the Social Services Department: they had anticipated a whole range of troubles between their own workers and the planning department, had foreseen demonstrations and other campaigns organised against the council by their own employees.