Alessandro Sicora – författare

What is a mistake in social work and how can we turn it into a positive learning experience? Simply going over the events of the day is often not enough and can become overwhelming. Learning from professional errors is, however, vital for successful reflective practice. This important book presents a theoretical framework that underpins this learning, along with a series of strategies for social workers to use either by themselves or as part of a group. These include creating questions and narratives to enhance learning, assertive techniques for receiving and offering criticism and organisational learning from mistakes.With plenty of practice examples and questions for reflection, this is essential reading for both social work students, and practitioners and managers at all stages of their career.

For many service users and professionals in the field of social work, shame is an ongoing part of their daily experience. Providing an in-depth examination of the complex phenomena of shame and humiliation, this book sets out key contextual issues and theoretical approaches to comprehend shame and its relevance within social work. It provides a broad understanding of shame, its underlying social and political contexts and its effects on service users and professionals.The book uses innovative international scholarship and includes theoretical considerations, as well as empirical findings within the field of social work. It shows the importance of sensitive, reflective and relationship-oriented practice based on a better understanding of the complexity of shame.

For many service users and professionals in the field of social work, shame is an ongoing part of their daily experience. Providing an in-depth examination of the complex phenomena of shame and humiliation, this book sets out key contextual issues and theoretical approaches to comprehend shame and its relevance within social work. It provides a broad understanding of shame, its underlying social and political contexts and its effects on service users and professionals.The book uses innovative international scholarship and includes theoretical considerations, as well as empirical findings within the field of social work. It shows the importance of sensitive, reflective and relationship-oriented practice based on a better understanding of the complexity of shame.

Emotions are central to our humanity and yet, when it comes to social work, the experiences of joy are often forgotten or overlooked, while ‘difficult’ emotions like shame, anger, disgust, fear, and sadness are often dismissed as unprofessional.This groundbreaking book challenges the taboo around emotion in social work. The first of its kind, it uses international research and hundreds of practitioner interviews to explore emotions in social work, and to demonstrate how embracing all emotions can enhance practice, prevent emotional burnout, and strengthen motivation. Accessibly written and with a strong practical element, this book is an invaluable tool for turning complex and emotionally charged situations into rich opportunities for learning, enhancing resilience, and developing personal and professional growth.