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

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.

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.