Gillian Ruch – författare

Critical reflection helps professionals to learn directly from their practice experience, so that they can improve their own work in an ongoing and flexible way – something essential in today’s complex and changing organisations. It allows change to be managed in a way which enables individuals to preserve a sense of what is fundamentally important to them as professionals. It is particularly important as it can also help make sense of some fundamental issues, and so also has implications for how we live our lives. However, more systematic research on critical reflection is needed to help us understand what works best for professionals in different settings. This timely work explores how critical reflection is researched, evaluated and used as a research method itself, with the aim of improving how it is taught and practised in a rigorous and transferable way. Developing a more comprehensive and multi-disciplinary view of the current state of critical reflection and the research directions which need to be taken, the book is divided into four parts. It: - Provides an overview of different perspectives on critical reflection and stimulates dialogue between them - Establishes some common platforms from which to develop further research directions - Identifies the major issues in evaluating critical reflection teaching, and main methods for doing so - Contributes to social science methodological innovations by exploring how methods based on critical reflection can be used for researching professional practice- Contains contributions from academics who are internationally known and highly experienced in different aspects of critical reflection.Researching Critical Reflection is an important reference for all students, practitioners, and researchers – including in the areas of education, management, health and social work – who engage with critical reflection to develop their practice.

Critical reflection helps professionals to learn directly from their practice experience, so that they can improve their own work in an ongoing and flexible way – something essential in today’s complex and changing organisations. It allows change to be managed in a way which enables individuals to preserve a sense of what is fundamentally important to them as professionals. It is particularly important as it can also help make sense of some fundamental issues, and so also has implications for how we live our lives. However, more systematic research on critical reflection is needed to help us understand what works best for professionals in different settings. This timely work explores how critical reflection is researched, evaluated and used as a research method itself, with the aim of improving how it is taught and practised in a rigorous and transferable way. Developing a more comprehensive and multi-disciplinary view of the current state of critical reflection and the research directions which need to be taken, the book is divided into four parts. It: - Provides an overview of different perspectives on critical reflection and stimulates dialogue between them - Establishes some common platforms from which to develop further research directions - Identifies the major issues in evaluating critical reflection teaching, and main methods for doing so - Contributes to social science methodological innovations by exploring how methods based on critical reflection can be used for researching professional practice- Contains contributions from academics who are internationally known and highly experienced in different aspects of critical reflection.Researching Critical Reflection is an important reference for all students, practitioners, and researchers – including in the areas of education, management, health and social work – who engage with critical reflection to develop their practice.

Social Work: An introduction to contemporary practice has quickly established itself as a leading and uniquely comprehensive introduction to the field. Essential knowledge and skills are examined with authority and depth, and key debates approached in an accessible, informative and engaging way. Underpinned by research and advice to make close illustrative links with practice, it stimulates interest and actively engages the reader.

Richly supported throughout with examples and real-life case scenarios, the text encourages the reader to adopt a critical and reflective approach. Furthermore, believing that social work exists to help people through complex and painful transitions in life, the authors set the relationship at the heart of social work practice.

This text is essential reading for social work students on undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes, newly qualified social workers and practitioners in a variety of settings

`The first text to systematically address the learning needs of post-qualifying child care social workers. Soundly organized and engagingly written with useful summaries and reflective exercises for students, it is a very fine text that will be widely used' - Nick Pike, Principal Lecturer in Social Work, University of Gloucestershire

This textbook provides an overview of the Post Qualifying Child Care Award in social work. Written in response to recent policy and training guidelines, it provides the underpinning knowledge for candidates following the Post Qualifying curriculum. It helps child care social workers acquire and develop the breadth of knowledge and understanding that characterise best practice.

Key features include:

-Chapters on reflective collaborative and critical practice; child development; child observation; case management and managing risk; working in partnership with children and families; inter-professional working and practice education

-Links to the relevant post qualifying standards for social work

-Contributions from a team of practice assessors and programme candidates

-A practice-based approach - clearly links theory, research and practice

-An inter-professional perspective

-Case studies, activities and points for reflection that encourage the reader to develop ways of challenging and improving their own practice.

The book equips social workers with the relevant training, knowledge and skills to improve the quality of services and their delivery. With an emphasis upon continuing professional development, this text is suitable for social workers studying for the Child Care Award, those already in practice and other social care professionals working with children.

`The first text to systematically address the learning needs of post-qualifying child care social workers. Soundly organized and engagingly written with useful summaries and reflective exercises for students, it is a very fine text that will be widely used' - Nick Pike, Principal Lecturer in Social Work, University of Gloucestershire

This textbook provides an overview of the Post Qualifying Child Care Award in social work. Written in response to recent policy and training guidelines, it provides the underpinning knowledge for candidates following the Post Qualifying curriculum. It helps child care social workers acquire and develop the breadth of knowledge and understanding that characterise best practice.

Key features include:

-Chapters on reflective collaborative and critical practice; child development; child observation; case management and managing risk; working in partnership with children and families; inter-professional working and practice education

-Links to the relevant post qualifying standards for social work

-Contributions from a team of practice assessors and programme candidates

-A practice-based approach - clearly links theory, research and practice

-An inter-professional perspective

-Case studies, activities and points for reflection that encourage the reader to develop ways of challenging and improving their own practice.

The book equips social workers with the relevant training, knowledge and skills to improve the quality of services and their delivery. With an emphasis upon continuing professional development, this text is suitable for social workers studying for the Child Care Award, those already in practice and other social care professionals working with children.

Available open access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.Based on the findings of the Innovate Project, a four year pan-UK study to identify the processes of innovation in care, this book asks: how can services be re-envisioned and transformed through innovation? The authors provide an overview of the project findings and offer insights into the core conditions necessary for socially just and practice-congruent social care innovation that responds to the distinctive, contemporary safeguarding concerns facing young people. Essential reading for anyone engaged in social care practice and innovation, as well as those undertaking continuing professional development, this book will aid the reader in developing a conceptual understanding of their experiences and support them in designing more informed responses to the challenges they face.

How do we better involve young children in the decision-making of their own social care? This book, developed from the Erasmus+ funded PANDA project, explores the development of knowledge and resources to educate and support social workers in their collaboration with children aged 12 and under. Featuring real-life practice vignettes, reflective questions and evidence-informed implications for practice – plus free additional resources on the PANDA project website – the book provides valuable insights that combine the work of academic and professional practice from a European perspective. With contributions from authors in Belgium, Northern Ireland, Norway and Spain, this essential resource empowers practitioners and policy makers to promote the participation rights of young children in decision-making processes and to help children find their voice in challenging times.

There is a growing interest in the use of psycho-social research methods but what is involved when researchers get up close and personal to human feelings, activities and interactions in a social work setting?This book brings together the work of academics, post-doctoral and doctoral researchers to lift the lid on psycho-social approaches in practice. Each chapter draws on empirical research to demonstrate how creative and reflexive psycho-social methods – ranging from arts-based inquiry to voice-centred analysis – can generate rich insights into lived experience and deepen understanding of professional relationships, organisational life and the everyday challenges of social work.The book features: • Critical reflections on the affordances and challenges of diverse psycho-social research methods; • ‘Core principles and practices to consider’ boxes at the end of each chapter for practical application; and • Case studies demonstrating how psycho-social methods operate in real-world research settings.This accessibly-written resource provides readers with practical guidance, critical reflection and frameworks that promote both intellectual and professional development.

There is a growing interest in the use of psycho-social research methods but what is involved when researchers get up close and personal to human feelings, activities and interactions in a social work setting?This book brings together the work of academics, post-doctoral and doctoral researchers to lift the lid on psycho-social approaches in practice. Each chapter draws on empirical research to demonstrate how creative and reflexive psycho-social methods – ranging from arts-based inquiry to voice-centred analysis – can generate rich insights into lived experience and deepen understanding of professional relationships, organisational life and the everyday challenges of social work.The book features: • Critical reflections on the affordances and challenges of diverse psycho-social research methods; • ‘Core principles and practices to consider’ boxes at the end of each chapter for practical application; and • Case studies demonstrating how psycho-social methods operate in real-world research settings.This accessibly-written resource provides readers with practical guidance, critical reflection and frameworks that promote both intellectual and professional development.

This comprehensive guide to relationship-based practice in social work communicates the theory using illustrative case studies and offers a model for practice. Updated and expanded, it now includes increased coverage of anti-oppressive and diversity issues, service user perspectives and systemic approaches in social work.The book explores the ranges of emotions that practitioners may encounter with service users, and covers working in both short-term and long-term professional relationships. It also outlines key skills, such as how to establish rapport, and explores systemic issues, such as building appropriate support systems for practice, management and leadership.