It is necessary for social work students to understand fully how people develop & how the different stages of life from birth to older adulthood require them to use different skills & approaches. Covering all stages of the life course this essential guide looks at the ways in which people develop before birth as babies & children through to adolescence & on to young middle & older adulthood. With this knowledge embedded social workers are able to establish & maintain effective partnerships with both service users & other professionals. ...

This new edition provides a thorough grounding in the key issues in mental health. It highlights the key issues in this complex & sensitive area of practice & helps students to understand the latest policy & practice issues. The book looks at various aspects of Mental Health Law including the Mental Capacity Act 2005 & the recent amendments to the 1983 Mental Health Act. The author is careful to apply these laws to everyday practice in an accessible & user-friendly way. This new edition

Includes:: updates to key policy areas such as Putting People First (2007) & No Voice (2007).

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Multi-agency working is a dominant characteristic of emerging policy & practice across the range of social care settings. While this challenging activity places considerable demands at both practice & policy levels when done well service users agree it offers enhanced service provision. When delivered ineffectively it can be frustrating & disempowering. This stimulating introductory text explores the challenges & opportunities for social-work education & practice within the context of multi-agency working. It: brings together leading experts from across a range of disciplines including criminology mental health child protection drugs & alcohol & education to give the reader insights into different social care settings;

Includes:: perspectives of those using services as well as describing the relevant legal & policy context & offering an overview of key research findings; & contains trigger questions & a recommended resources section within each chapter. With an emphasis on identifying learning that can inform future practice this text will be an essential text for both qualifying & post qualifying social workers who will go on to practice in diverse & assorted settings.

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An understanding of social policy is vital for engaging practically with social work values dealing with political & ethical questions about responsibility rights our understanding of the good society. This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to social policy tailored to the needs of a social work audience. Jonathan Dickens analyses current policies & policy themes relevant to social work & locates them in the context of fundamental social policy principles & debates. He discusses the nature of social policy & its relationship to social work & covers essential themes such as: service user participation & involvement the balance between individual; societal & state responsibility for peoples wellbeing; the proper roles of the state; the private sector; voluntary organisations & the family; the relationships between needs rights & choices; the purposes & challenges of professional social work; & the meanings of inclusion & personalisation. Each chapter ends with activities for reflection & analysis & suggestions for further reading. Social Work & Social Policy" is invaluable for students undertaking social work qualifying courses all of whom are required to demonstrate an understanding of the social policy contexts of practice." ...

Neil Thompson is an authority on social work both as an author & trainer & has a massive student following reflected in sales of all his books. Social Work has around 8000 new students a year in the UK & was in the top 10 most popular degree subjects in the UK in 2006. With no A level available & a high proportion of mature non-traditional students accepted on courses social work students are often anxious to get a head start on their degrees
- this book fits that purpose. This is a practical user-friendly text addressing the anxieties & challenges faced by social work students at the start of their course. Offering wide-ranging yet accessible coverage of the core topics along with important advice on study skills this Companion is the essential survival guide for social work students. What does training to become a social worker involve? How can students best build their skills & academic portfolio to succeed in one of the most challenging & varied professional roles? This text is designed to support all social work students both in coping with the challenges of academic study & in rising to the pressures of practice learning. Designed to be as practical & user-friendly as possible the text offers: wide-ranging yet accessible coverage of the core areas of theory & practice studied on a typical social work degree; a wealth of advice & information regarding key concepts & theories alongside the principle of good practice; specific guidance about study skills & extensive signposting to other texts & further sources of information; & an overview of the range of possible career directions students might take & advice on applying for jobs. Packed full of case studies & helpful advice this text provides readers with a sound foundation for study & future practice. The Social Work Companion" is the survival guide for students on qualifying courses in social work."
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This path-breaking text constructs a new way of thinking about social work based on contemporary social theory & taking into account recent changes in social work. Working in a counter-tradition that is suspicious of a number of governing ideas & practices in social work it draws on themes in the work of theorists such as Beck Giddens Rose
- risk trust regulation identity governmentality
- to explore the impact of risk society & neo-liberalism on social work.

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Written with the non-lawyer in mind Social Work Law presents a comprehensive practical & accessible guide to the legal framework that any social worker or student of social work needs to know. The author provides a balanced account of the law as applied to children families & vulnerable adults alike & pays particular attention to the key areas of: the dynamic relationship between the law & social work practice; the crucial role of anti-discriminatory practice; & the continued growth in the importance of the Human Rights Act 1998. ...

Although this book is primarily for social workers it has great relevance for all students & practitioners working with people. It deals with a wide range of fundamental theories which underpin behaviour in a clear & comprehensive manner." Anne Mills Bournemouth University UK " Its really nice to come across a social work textbook covering all the behaviour theories & their integration within different areas of social work in such detail." Nell Abramczuk Social Work Student Bangor University UK " This is one of the best books on behavioural sciences for social workers I have seen for a long time. It is up to the usual high standard of OU texts." Gavin Bissell University of Bradford UK " This book could be used for a range of social work modules from professional studies looking at social work methods & theory through to enabling students on placement to link suitable theory to human behaviour. It is a highly considered & comprehensive book which I will be recommending to students." Rhiannon Jones Manchester Metropolitan University UK " This is an excellent introduction that provides just the right depth & is well applied to practice. Although not flashy it is clearly laid out." David Shaw Buckinghamshire New University UK " Ive only just skimmed this book but will be putting in on my reading list for next year & will recommend to undergraduate students who start this module next week. Its accessible to undergraduates comprehensive & consistently makes realistic links to practice issues." Mandy Hagan Manchester Metropolitan University UK The capacity to observe interpret & understand human behaviour is vital for effective social work practice. By choosing to enter a profession that requires high levels of astute observation & listening skills in the interpretation of peoples behaviour social work students have undertaken a demanding task. Using a bio-psychosocial framework this fascinating book provides a wide basis of perspectives on human behaviour on which to build understanding of & responses to peoples behaviours along with an enhanced appreciation of some of the circumstances that shape behaviour. Margarete Parrish covers the key theories of human growth & development in the context of social relationships providing a frame of reference from which to explore various aspects of human behaviour. This is particularly relevant to students preparedness to practice social work with complex populations addressing factors such as: Attachment Developmental status Context Diversity Trauma Oppression By drawing from biological psychological & sociological perspectives the book aims to provide social work students with a theoretically informed basis to observe understand & interpret peoples behaviours in ways that will contribute to excellent practice. The book

Includes:: exercises discussion questions & chapter summary points to help the reader further develop their understanding. Social Work Perspectives on Human Behaviour is key reading for all social work students."

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This bestselling & widely recognised textbook is now into its Third Edition & has been fully updated to reflect the recent changes in social work practice. New features & case studies are included throughout as is a greater emphasis on safeguarding & protection issues. By working through this book student social workers can ensure that they understand the features of a good assessment how it is conducted & some of the difficulties that might arise during the process. ...

In 2008 the London Borough of Hackney radically overhauled its childrens social work system & created the Reclaim Social Work model which has since 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 Reclaim Social Work model is how it was implemented & how it works. It explains the models system of social work units made up of clinicians & therapists & headed by a consultant social worker & demonstrates how it has worked in practice. Chapters written by consultant social workers with extensive experience of working within the model outline the methodological approaches used & the evidence base underlying the model. This book on a pioneering new social work model will be of great interest to social work managers policymakers & academics. ...