Drawing on the authors’ extensive experience as educators, this book puts forward a new model of social work practice that both supports and protects service users across the life course. Crossing the traditional divide between social work with children and families and adults, this text applies a lifecourse perspective, within an ecological frame. Based on the principle that practice drives theory, a practical approach for social work is put forward using five interconnected themes: duality of support and protection life transitions and life events intergenerational relations civic partnership and engagement health and wellbeing Designed for students and practitioners, this text takes an enquiry-based approach using Critical ART (analysis, reflection and thinking). The book features: case studies research examples tips for Critical ART in practice further reading and resources