Citation

Timms E. Br. J. Soc. Work 1983; 13(1): 405-415.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1983, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a054873

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Taking as its starting point the Barclay Committee's definition of community in terms of local informal networks, this paper sets out to cull some relevant material from the literature of social networks and to use it to demonstrate the appropriateness of orienting social work practice to the community. In suggesting an emphasis on supporting rather than supplanting existing informal caring systems, it is made dear that, if motivated by parsimony such an approach risks irresponsibly increasing distress and social costs.