In contrast to most Western countries, social work is relatively new to China, where it was reintroduced as an academic discipline less than 30 years ago. Indeed, it was only in 2004 that the Chinese government issued a professional standard of social work. In doing so, social work was officially recognised by the government (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China (MHRSSPRC), 2004). The government aims to increase the number of professional social workers to 1.45 million by 2020 (Ministry of Civil Affairs of P.R. China (MCAPRC), 2012b). Since 2004, the profession has developed rapidly. In 2012, there were over 200,000 social workers in China, of whom one fourth were licensed. In addition, 320 social work associate and bachelor programmes and 60 master of social work programmes now operate (MCAPRC, 2012a). Despite this rapid growth, the social work profession and academia face a number of chronic troubles. In academia, social work is often recognised as an associate discipline to sociology. Many educators lack sufficient social work training, yet bear the challenge of applying social work values and practice experience in the Chinese context. Only a tiny proportion of the general public has adequate knowledge of the discipline and profession. Social work graduates have alarmingly low employment rates and high turnover rates.

Social policy and social work share the goal of enhancing people’s well-being. Social policy is also part of the practice environment of social work. According to the definition of social work in the Chinese National Professional Standards, the function of social work includes improving social relations, preventing and solving social problems, and improving social justice (MHRSSPRC, 2004). Engaging in the policy process is necessary to fulfil these functions. Nevertheless, social policy is not among the eight social work fields identified by the National Professional Standards document (MHRSSPRC, 2004).

Despite the ambiguity of the government statement, social work academia has theoretically explored the necessity for and possible ways of engaging in policy practice in China. Wang (2006) indicated that social workers are those carrying out and examining social policy, noting that implementing social policy should involve social work. Sun (2001) claimed that social workers should participate in policy-making and use social policy to make social work in China more professional.