<P> The practice and profession of social work has a relatively modern and scientific origin, and is generally considered to have developed out of three strands . The first was individual casework, a strategy pioneered by the Charity Organisation Society in the mid-19th century . The second was social administration, which included various forms of poverty relief . Statewide poverty relief could be said to have its roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century, but was first systematized through the efforts of the Charity Organisation Society . The third consisted of social action - rather than engaging in the resolution of immediate individual requirements, the emphasis was placed on political action working through the community and the group to improve their social conditions and thereby alleviate poverty . This approach was developed originally by the settlement house movement . </P> <P> This was accompanied by a less easily defined movement; the development of institutions to deal with the entire range of social problems . All had their most rapid growth during the nineteenth century, and laid the foundational basis for modern social work, both in theory and in practice . </P> <P> Professional social work originated in 19th century England, and had its roots in the social and economic upheaval wrought by the Industrial Revolution, in particular the societal struggle to deal with the resultant mass urban - based poverty and its related problems . Because poverty was the main focus of early social work, it was intricately linked with the idea of charity work . (Today, it is common for social workers to find themselves dealing with consequences arising from other social problems such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and discrimination based on age or on physical or mental disability .) </P> <P> With the decline of feudalism in 16th century England, the indigent poor came to be seen as a more direct threat to the social order . As they were often not associated to a particular feudal manor, the government moved towards the formation of an organized poverty relief system to care for them . </P>

When did social work start in the uk