This book discusses current social and caring welfare professions and their practices in a number of European countries in a comprehensive and structured way. It presents research-based knowledge in order to offer insights into the current practices of social and caring welfare professions in countries with different cultural, social and political contexts, as well as deeper knowledge about the subtle, dynamic, affective and interactive aspects of professional work. This challenges the view that social and caring welfare professionals’ work concentrates on rational use of knowledge. The book also discusses contextual factors influencing professionals’ work (e.g. government control, organisation models and inter-professional collaboration), and explores knowledge concerning the ways attitudes, emotions, identities and education affect professional work. The book is structured in four themes, the first being knowledge, reflection and identity, the second control, regulation and management, the third collaboration, conflict and competition and the final theme being assessment, negotiation and decision-making. These themes are central to social and caring professions in Europe in the current situation where they face new demands and expectations.