If care work is to be re-valued and reformed, who will pay? As borders between care and other adjacent fields, such as education and health, become blurred, might care work gradually merge into other types of work? What are the implications for the current workforce?

In this wide-ranging and innovative book the authors critically examine current themes in care work and look at the changing face of care work and care occupations for those working with children, young people, adults and the elderly.

The book guides the reader through an introduction to care work as it is widely understood today and towards a critical understanding of potential futures for care work. It is organized into two parts:
· the first part critically examines current themes in care work, such as the definition and boundaries of care work, characteristics of care workers, gender issues, knowledge and education and the issue of where care work takes place;
· the second part looks at the changing face of care work and care work occupations. Case studies of different types of care worker are profiled with a focus on future directions for care work.

The book will be highly relevant to academic and policy audiences, and managers or practitioners working in health, social care, childcare, youth work and social policy.