[영문]Using the first three years of the British Journal of Social Work, 1971?74, as a starting point, this paper traces the difficulties which have beset the social work profession in establishing a sound coherent basis both for a generic foundation and for subsequent specializations. It examines the factors which have contributed to these difficulties, in education, in practice and in relation to external factors, notably political. It concludes that social work has been blown off course but that there are hopeful indications of a new impetus to restore and regenerate the essence of good practice.