Practitioners and academics draw upon their experience of working with social work students to discuss the complex issues that arise in practice teaching. The fundamental challenges related to the organizational context of social work, the role of the practice teacher as the pivot between theory and practice and the need to ensure the development of a sound value base in all social work students are all explored in depth. The contributors demonstrate how they have managed to create stimulating and rewarding learning opportunities for their students by holding onto the essential skills and values of effective social work in the face of continuous organizational re-structuring, resource constraints and an uncertain future.