Reclaiming Social Work (RSW) is a radical new system for delivering child and family social work in the UK. The system was first piloted in the London Borough of Hackney and the model has gained national recognition. At the heart of this innovative system is the endeavour to keep children together with their families. This book sets out what the Reclaiming Social Work model is, how it was implemented, and how it works. It explains the RSW system of social work 'units' made up of clinicians and therapists and headed by a consultant social worker, and demonstrates how it has worked in practice. The evidence base and theories underlying the model are also explained. Several chapters are written by consultant social workers with extensive experience of working within RSW, which outline the methodological approaches used. This book on a pioneering new social work model will be of great interest to social work managers, policymakers and academics.
Reclaim Social Work (RSW) is the innovative model of children's social work pioneered by the London Borough of Hackney. This book sets out what RSW is, how it was set up, and the theory and evidence base underlying it. Chapters written by RSW social workers outline the methodological approaches used and demonstrate how it works in practice.
This book is a timely review of scholarship in social work supervision; re-examining the state of knowledge, research and practice; and asking if it is time for a new paradigm for the field. The contributors present a universal paradigm in social work around what we understand social work to be, not only through its practice of supervision but also what this contributes to the challenge of any dominant ideas or ideals about the supervision agenda in an increasingly globalised social work context. Capturing new developments from different regions of the world, the book shows how these can inform critical practice, professional development and well-being, and have a wider impact on accountability, effectiveness and work performance. The book will be appreciated by people needing or using services, novice or learner social workers, and those responsible for training or educating in supervision knowledge and skills or preparing to take up this important role. With applications for both academic research and practitioner-based learning, this book will help to ensure the best quality and supportive practice within the workforce and community it serves. This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Social Work.
Puzzled by terminology, skills, law, or theory? Revising for your placement or exam? Then look no further! This series of concise and easy-to-use A-Zs will be your guide. Designed for both students and newly-qualified social workers, this book will introduce you to over 60 key skills in a concise and no-nonsense way. You can test your knowledge and how to apply each skill in practice with Skills in Action, Stop-Reflect and Top Tips boxes.
This very practical guide will teach students everything they need to know to successfully apply theory, methods and approaches in real-life practice. It will assist in developing and hone their skills to make the best start in their practice placement and beyond as a newly qualified practitioner. To get the most out of this book, visit the companion website at https://www.study.sagepub.com/rogers2e to find journal articles, templates, ‘how to’ guides and brand new videos with discussion questions, and a glossary.
Feminist social work has clear goals to expose and critically analyse gendered power as a dynamic, historic, and structural concept embedded in our world, and to mobilise and take social action to challenge that power. This is integral to a commitment to the core values of the social work profession, which include a commitment to human rights, social justice and professional integrity. This edited collection brings a range of academic and practitioner scholarship to centre feminist theories, values and knowledge as they apply to social work practice, theory and education. It engages with feminist thinking to re-emphasise and refocus the centrality of gender and its intersections with other axes of identities such as social class, race, disability, sexuality and age, for understanding and analysing social work practice. This collection is a timely reminder of what feminist inquiry has to offer social work to successfully address contemporary challenges and is applicable to practitioners, scholars, educators, students and other key care professionals and policy makers.
This collection charts the key developments in the social work field from 1970 to the present day and shows how by fully understanding social work’s past, we can make better progress for practitioners and service users in the future. It brings together a broad collection of experts from across social work who trace how thinking and approaches to practice have changed over time, examine key legislative developments in the field, look at the impacts of major inquiries and consider the re-emergence of certain specialisms. Providing students and practitioners of social work and social policy with a full picture of the evolution of social work, it also shares important insights for its future directions.
“This book sheds a very bright light on poverty as a central experience of the people social workers work with. Research and theories of power, politics and values are thoroughly discussed and provide the basis for a sustained commitment to social justice. The book is a supportive read as it skilfully appreciates the personal challenges that critical and assertive practice entails. It is a book for students, professionals and service leads to keep, re-read and savour.” Dr Tillie Curran, Senior Lecturer in Social Work, University of the West of England, UK “By identifying power, poverty, politics and values as core themes in social work, this text offers us a refreshing perspective which will challenge students and practitioners alike to re-evaluate their practice in the light of its wider social, political and philosophical contexts. Through an exploration of issues of power and an interrogation of the real meaning of social work ethics and values, Sheedy motivates and encourages us to reflect on our practice and to ensure that it is truly person-centred.” Dr Sue Taplin, University of Nottingham, UK “This book offers a concise and coherent discussion of what should be core themes in thoughtful and careful social work practice. It offers a journey towards rethinking and embracing effective critical practice, which engages with human rights and social justice as much as with empowerment and with individual and interpersonal change. Occasional student accounts, coupled with use of key points and questions for discussion make for accessibility. The book synthesises, summarises and critiques ideas about how to understand and resolve social issues, enabling readers to question how they might work creatively alongside service users. It is a book which invites reflection on policy and practice.” Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Dean, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, UK “This excellent text is essential reading for all social workers and students, and a key resource for academics. It highlights – with concern and conviction – the importance of developing an effective critical practice that ‘challenges, enhances and broadens the task of conventional social work’ in ways that have ‘the potential to improve outcomes for service users’. It calls for a social work practice based on an understanding of the issues of power, politics and ideology - and the values and ‘world view’ held by the worker - linked with concerns raised by the people that social workers regularly encounter and work with. The issues of ‘poverty and disadvantage’ and their structural causes run throughout this text – issues that have been too long neglected in social work. In this text, Martin Sheedy corrects that neglect by outlining in some detail the impact of poverty on people’s lives and life chances whilst at the same time describing how critical practice can be used by social workers to promote social justice and empowerment practices.” Dr Pamela Trevithick, Visiting Professor in Social Work, Buckinghamshire New University, UK This engaging book introduces the core themes in social work, and encourages students and practitioners to connect with the important debates surrounding these themes and challenges them to revisit the direction social work is and should be going in. The key contexts of social work are explored using knowledge from the disciplines of social theory, politics, sociology, psychology and ethics. The content is enlivened by: The voices of students, service users and practitioners Current and topical content on social work, poverty, politics, power and values A discussion style format to help readers engage with the topics An extensive range of sources of knowledge and theory Key summary points at the end of each chapter Group discussion questions at the end of each chapter This book will contribute to social work students’ and practitioners’ thinking about the world in which they live and operate as professionals.
Assessment is a core component of social work. Since first publication, Assessment in Social Work has provided students and practitioners with a clear overview of the complex issues they face and a map of the theory they need to draw on in order to conduct thorough, effective and meaningful assessments. New to this Edition: - Updated and revised chapter on Signs of Safety/Strengths in light of recent research and guidance - Coverage of recording and sharing information included throughout the text - Added coverage of confidentiality and inter-agency workingUpdated material in light of the Mental Capacity Act - More material on Cultural differences throughout - Updated legislation and professional guidance throughout Refreshed and updated examples thought-out the text - A more detailed outline of the different national perspectives within the UK
In Self-Leadership in Social Work, Bill McKitterick calls for change in the practice of the profession. Arguing that the current approaches have minimized the social justice focus and therapeutic and change-oriented interventions, McKitterick explores the ways that strong self-leadership can help social workers refocus their attention on efforts that can achieve positive change. He identifies tactics and strategies for providing leadership within a team and in senior positions. Offering a fresh and innovative view of the field, this book will inspire social workers, managers of social services, and social work students to exercise leadership in their own practice.
The ability to demonstrate professional leadership is a core requirement for social work students and social workers operating at all levels. This comprehensive textbook is ideal for any student on a social work course, from undergraduate to postgraduate study, and will go onto serve as a useful reference for more experienced social work professionals. this book engages in the essential discussion of what professional leadership means in the context of contemporary social work and why this is considered to be important for the future of the profession. Each chapter contains illustrative case studies, a range of interactive activities, a summary of key point and suggestions for further reading that enable students and qualified social workers to understand the knowledge, skills and attributes required in practicing professional leadership in real life contexts.
