Social Work and Social Work Education in Germany: Development and Challenges in a Scientific and Practice-Based Profession and Its Education

The social work profession in Germany, with its science, practice and education, has gone through a complex historical development where many different socioeconomic, political and cultural factors have played an important role in what social work and social work education are today. This chapter analyses the current situation and developments in social work and social work education in Germany and describes the historical process of the profession, the main work areas, the level of academisation and the numerous challenges the profession faces today.