Originally published in 1975 and based on a study of the memories and perceptions of twenty-seven families known to a Family Service Unit, and of their most recent social workers, this book was an important contribution to our knowledge of consumer opinions of the social services at the time. In particular, it draws attention to factors relevant to the evaluation of social work practice and to the definition of success.

The family members describe for themselves, by means of extracts from tape-recorded interviews, what it feels like to have problems, to be referred for help – in short, to be a ‘client’. They give an account of the help they have received and define the personal attributes and activities which they have found helpful and appropriate in social workers.

This book would have been of special value to social workers, to social work students, and to all those concerned with social policy and administration. Today it can be read in its historical context.