Sadly, since the publication of the first edition of this manual, Peter Gilbert has passed away. Peter had a highly successful career, initially in the army followed by 27 years' service in local government social services as a practitioner/manager and senior manager, rising to the level of Operations Director for Staffordshire County Council and then Director of Social Services for Worcestershire. Following this he became Professor of Social Work and Spirituality at Staffordshire University where he was involved in giving spirituality a higher profile in relation to mental health and social care more broadly. In the latter years of his career he worked as an independent consultant in social and health care, while also serving as visiting professor at the University of Worcester.