Helping children, disabled people, the unemployed, the elderly or homeless can be inspiring work. However you can only help other people effectively if you understand your role clearly and know how to navigate the organisation in which you work. Professional Practice in Human Service Organisations examines what it means to be a professional in human service work, and how to develop excellence in professional practice. Making explicit what is often held as tacit knowledge in day-to-day practice, the authors explain the dynamics of human service organisations. They outline the challenges workers can face in caring for