David Wilkins – författare

Seize control of your company's future--even intimes of business disruption and market turmoil

From expanding global markets to an intensifying "war" for human resources, disruptive shifts are now a fact of business life. The ability to anticipate and adapt to suchchanges is what will separate the winners from the losers in the very near future. Creating the organizational agility necessary to compete in this new environment doesn't begin with the brute force of spending huge sums of money. Nor will a "bulletproof" business strategy ora culture of innovation magically transpire without the right foundations in place.

You have to begin where all business success starts--with Leadership Pure and Simple.

Leadership Pure and Simple gives you the toolsto turn today's toughest business challenges into transformative opportunities for profitability and growth. By approaching leadership in a number of ways--including as a strategist, an innovator, a decision maker, a critical thinker, and a process manager--you can lead yourcompany to profitability and growth no matter what the global economy throws your way.

Leadership Pure and Simple addresses the broadest and most important changes occurring in society today to help you:

The fallout from our rapidly changing global economy hasn't occurred in force yet. But it's coming. Read Leadership Pure and Simple and learn how to adapt your company to the upheaval going on around it and lead it to ultimate success.

Praise for Leadership Pure and Simple

"[DPI's] process has been a key catalyst of our growth." -- THOMAS CHUA, chairman, Teckwah Industrial Corporation

"The DPI process requires the organization and all its key managers to quite extensively draw on their collective knowledge and experience to formulate answers to the challenging questions framed. We found it easier to do [innovate and change the game] based on the methodology, because the leadership itself had crafted the new strategy and the new business concept." -- CHONG SIAK CHING, CEO, Ascendas

"All the knowledge you need [to create a strategy] resides in the head of your own people, and all you need is a process to extract that and look at it differently. It is a powerful concept and the right concept for every organization. I've used it at three organizations and in each case the results have been spectacular." -- STEVE BONNER, CEO, Cancer Treatment Centers of America

"New products are the lifeblood of our company. We put this process into place about 18 months ago. And after 18 months, 30 percent of our sales come from new products." -- NEIL McDONOUGH, CEO, Flexcon

"Once again, the capable team at DPI has taken a difficult topic and applied their extensive experience in strategic thinking and execution to provide a well-structured, simple, and easy-to-follow approach to building a winning organization." -- MARTIN BANNER, CEO, National Airways Corporation

"We thought that if we went through this process, we would get a common understanding and buy-in to our business philosophy. And it defi nitely achieved that objective." -- LAURIE DIPPENAAR, Chair, First Rand Limited

Seize control of your company''s future--even in times of business disruption and market turmoil

From expanding global markets to an intensifying "war" for human resources, disruptive shifts are now a fact of business life. The ability to anticipate and adapt to such changes is what will separate the winners from the losers in the very near future. Creating the organizational agility necessary to compete in this new environment doesn''t begin with the brute force of spending huge sums of money. Nor will a "bulletproof" business strategy or a culture of innovation magically transpire without the right foundations in place.

You have to begin where all business success starts--with Leadership Pure and Simple.

Leadership Pure and Simple gives you the tools to turn today''s toughest business challenges into transformative opportunities for profitability and growth. By approaching leadership in a number of ways--including as a strategist, an innovator, a decision maker, a critical thinker, and a process manager--you can lead your company to profitability and growth no matter what the global economy throws your way.

Leadership Pure and Simple addresses the broadest and most important changes occurring in society today to help you:

The fallout from our rapidly changing global economy hasn''t occurred in force yet. But it''s coming. Read Leadership Pure and Simple and learn how to adapt your company to the upheaval going on around it and lead it to ultimate success.

Praise for Leadership Pure and Simple

"[DPI''s] process has been a key catalyst of our growth." -- THOMAS CHUA, chairman, Teckwah Industrial Corporation

"The DPI process requires the organization and all its key managers to quite extensively draw on their collective knowledge and experience to formulate answers to the challenging questions framed. We found it easier to do [innovate and change the game] based on the methodology, because the leadership itself had crafted the new strategy and the new business concept." -- CHONG SIAK CHING, CEO, Ascendas

"All the knowledge you need [to create a strategy] resides in the head of your own people, and all you need is a process to extract that and look at it differently. It is a powerful concept and the right concept for every organization. I''ve used it at three organizations and in each case the results have been spectacular." -- STEVE BONNER, CEO, Cancer Treatment Centers of America

"New products are the lifeblood of our company. We put this process into place about 18 months ago. And after 18 months, 30 percent of our sales come from new products." -- NEIL McDONOUGH, CEO, Flexcon

"Once again, the capable team at DPI has taken a difficult topic and applied their extensive experience in strategic thinking and execution to provide a well-structured, simple, and easy-to-follow approach to building a winning organization." -- MARTIN BANNER, CEO, National Airways Corporation

"We thought that if we went through this process, we would get a common understanding and buy-in to our business philosophy. And it defi nitely achieved that objective." -- LAURIE DIPPENAAR, Chair, First Rand Limited

Dr David Wilkins is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, UK.

Dr Godfred Boahen is a Policy and Research Officer at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), UK.

How can social workers develop their critical analysis skills? What role does critical analysis play in the day-to-day activities of a social worker? And can we critically analyse in isolation?

The ability to analyse contexts, scenarios and service users through a critical lens is vital to effective social work practice. Despite this, many social workers attempt to analyse situations alone, missing marks of significance.

This book, written by two senior academics and practitioners who, at the time, were in the midst of their PhDs, offers a basis step-by-step model that busy social workers can use to develop a more critical and analytical mindset. It shows how analysis can be woven throughout the whole process of social work engagement, resulting in more effective decision-making, more efficient ways of working and, ultimately, better outcomes for social work service users. This is achieved by ways of handy tools, case studies and dilemmas, research summaries, and exercises and reflections points to tackle alone or with a colleague.

Topics covered include:

What analysis is, and why it is such an important skill in social work practice.The skills that underpin critical analysis, such as time management, planning, critical understanding, logical thinking, research-mindedness, creativity, communication, reflection and hypothesising.The role of emotion and intuition in critical analysis.The importance of supervision and team or supervised analysis.

***

This book forms part of the Social Work Skills in Practice series. The series focuses on key social work skills required for working with children and adult service users, families and carers. The books offer both theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge, alongside the application of skills relevant for day-to-day social work practice.  They are an invaluable resource for pre-qualifying students, newly-qualified social workers, academics teaching and researching in the field, as well as social work practitioners, including practice educators, pursuing continuous professional development.

***

"A timely and appropriate post-Munro book for social workers at all levels of experience. The chapter on emotion, intuition and critical analysis is a particularly welcome addition to the subject. A really useful book."Dr Jane Reeves, Director of Studies, M.A. Child Protection, Co-Director Centre for Child Protection, University of Kent, UK

Dr David Wilkins is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, UK.

Dr Godfred Boahen is a Policy and Research Officer at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), UK.

The ability to analyse contexts, scenarios and service users through a critical lens is vital to effective social work practice. Despite this, many social workers attempt to analyse situations alone, missing marks of significance.

This book, written by two senior academics and practitioners who, at the time, were in the midst of their PhDs, offers a basis step-by-step model that busy social workers can use to develop a more critical and analytical mindset. It shows how analysis can be woven throughout the whole process of social work engagement, resulting in more effective decision-making, more efficient ways of working and, ultimately, better outcomes for social work service users. This is achieved by ways of handy tools, case studies and dilemmas, research summaries, and exercises and reflections points to tackle alone or with a colleague.

Topics covered include:

This book forms part of the Social Work Skills in Practice series. The series focuses on key social work skills required for working with children and adult service users, families and carers. The books offer both theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge, alongside the application of skills relevant for day-to-day social work practice.  They are an invaluable resource for pre-qualifying students, newly-qualified social workers, academics teaching and researching in the field, as well as social work practitioners, including practice educators, pursuing continuous professional development.

''A timely and appropriate post-Munro book for social workers at all levels of experience. The chapter on emotion, intuition and critical analysis is a particularly welcome addition to the subject. A really useful book.''

Dr Jane Reeves, Director of Studies, M.A. Child Protection, Co-Director Centre for Child Protection, University of Kent, UK

This best-selling text has been used by countless students, practitioners and researchers as a key reference on child protection issues. The book demystifies this complex and emotionally-charged area, outlining research, history, social policy and legislation, as well as the theory and practice underpinning child protection work. Written by influential academics and practitioners, this updated edition looks at child protection practices in a global context and provides:• The latest research and thinking on the causes and consequences of child abuse, including new insights about the relationship between deprivation, poverty and abuse and neglect• An overview of child protection practices, ranging from the 19th Century to recent policy and practice changes, including the widespread adoption of practice models and attempts to improve the quality of social work services

Using examples to highlight key discussions and points, this book will enhance the confidence, knowledge and skills of practitioners, supervisors and managers. “This is an important, varied, well-structured, and interesting academic contribution to the area of child protection, neglect, and child abuse. The authors draw on a range of literature, theories, and the extant evidence-base to present a breadth of chapters, from global perspectives on child abuse, to the history of child abuse, to reflections for the future of child protection work. This book will add value to a wide range of professionals in this important field.”Dr Karen  Treisman, Clinical Psychologist, Trainer

"This is an important addition to the child abuse and child protection literature. Drawing from a variety of current research carried out by professionals and academics from a range of disciplines, this book will be an excellent companion for students, academics and practitioners working in this challenging but important area of work.“Dr Elena Martellozzo, Online child protection expert. Middlesex University, UK

 “This is a comprehensive text which explores the legislative, cultural and historic context in which today’s child protection has been shaped. Building on previous editions, it provides a valuable and up-to-date insight into contemporary child protection practice.”Rebecca Avery, Education Safeguarding Advisor (Online Protection), The Education People

“How did we get to where we are in our response to child abuse – and what might the future hold? This book provides a timely, comprehensive and thoughtful response to this question; demonstrating the importance of understanding our journey to present day practices if we are to improve the protection of children in the future. Integrating historical, sociological, psychological and biological perspectives, and grappling with the ethical as well as practical challenges of child abuse responses, the authors provide us with an overview upon which we must learn from past successes, as well as tragedies, as we utilise and further build an evidence base for confident social work practices around the world. “Dr Carlene Firmin, Principal Research Fellow in Contextual Safeguarding, University of Bedfordshire, UK

This best-selling text has been used by countless students, practitioners and researchers as a key reference on child protection issues. The book demystifies this complex and emotionally-charged area, outlining research, history, social policy and legislation, as well as the theory and practice underpinning child protection work. Written by influential academics and practitioners, this updated edition looks at child protection practices in a global context and provides:• The latest research and thinking on the causes and consequences of child abuse, including new insights about the relationship between deprivation, poverty and abuse and neglect• An overview of child protection practices, ranging from the 19th Century to recent policy and practice changes, including the widespread adoption of practice models and attempts to improve the quality of social work services

Using examples to highlight key discussions and points, this book will enhance the confidence, knowledge and skills of practitioners, supervisors and managers. “This is an important, varied, well-structured, and interesting academic contribution to the area of child protection, neglect, and child abuse. The authors draw on a range of literature, theories, and the extant evidence-base to present a breadth of chapters, from global perspectives on child abuse, to the history of child abuse, to reflections for the future of child protection work. This book will add value to a wide range of professionals in this important field.”Dr Karen  Treisman, Clinical Psychologist, Trainer

"This is an important addition to the child abuse and child protection literature. Drawing from a variety of current research carried out by professionals and academics from a range of disciplines, this book will be an excellent companion for students, academics and practitioners working in this challenging but important area of work.“Dr Elena Martellozzo, Online child protection expert. Middlesex University, UK

 “This is a comprehensive text which explores the legislative, cultural and historic context in which today’s child protection has been shaped. Building on previous editions, it provides a valuable and up-to-date insight into contemporary child protection practice.”Rebecca Avery, Education Safeguarding Advisor (Online Protection), The Education People

“How did we get to where we are in our response to child abuse – and what might the future hold? This book provides a timely, comprehensive and thoughtful response to this question; demonstrating the importance of understanding our journey to present day practices if we are to improve the protection of children in the future. Integrating historical, sociological, psychological and biological perspectives, and grappling with the ethical as well as practical challenges of child abuse responses, the authors provide us with an overview upon which we must learn from past successes, as well as tragedies, as we utilise and further build an evidence base for confident social work practices around the world. “Dr Carlene Firmin, Principal Research Fellow in Contextual Safeguarding, University of Bedfordshire, UK

In 1940, Private Raymond Bailey, a 21-year-old Vauxhall motors apprentice, was captured in northern France, becoming a Nazi prisoner of war. But he wouldn''t remain one for long...

The Longest Walk Home is the incredible account of his daring 2,000 mile escape across Europe and over the Pyrenees, to the safety of British Gibraltar, and home in time for Christmas. Along the way Ray has nerve-shredding encounters with German soldiers and the Spanish Civil Guard. Often he is exhausted and starving. All that keeps him going is his youthful energy, unfailing optimism, and the kindness of strangers who risk their own safety to help him.Ray''s escape is remarkable, but so too is his memoir. It was written within a year or two of the events it describes, when Ray was just 22, and despite Ray''s obvious writing talent it was lost for decades until it was discovered at auction in an unmarked box of WWII memorabilia by David Wilkins. Ray''s is a true unheard voice, and one of the last from this time.