Transforming Social Work Practice Series – serie

The first part of the book explores the evolution of concepts and policies for safeguarding adults, with particular reference to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Capacity Act 2005. In the second section the focus shifts to good practice in empowering vulnerable adults. The final section focuses on developing effective professional and inter-professional practice.

‘Hatton’s book is a welcome antidote to stagnation and moribund thinking in contemporary professional practice and readers will gain much from engaging with the concepts he sets out and the challenges he raises.’

Jonathan Parker, Series Editor

Since the first edition of Kieron Hatton’s important book outlining many of the New Directions facing social work a significant number of changes and challenges have continued to have a huge impact on contemporary social work practice in the UK. From the second Laming report and the subsequent work of the Social Work Task Force, Social Work Reform Board and The College of Social Work, to the Reclaiming Social Work agenda and Munro Review, the context within which social work is practice has continued to change and this new edition unpicks the challenges, opportunities and threats facing the social workers of today.

This book re-establishes an important contribution to learning from which students, their service users and ultimately society should benefit.

‘Hatton’s book is a welcome antidote to stagnation and moribund thinking in contemporary professional practice and readers will gain much from engaging with the concepts he sets out and the challenges he raises.’

Jonathan Parker, Series Editor

Since the first edition of Kieron Hatton’s important book outlining many of the New Directions facing social work a significant number of changes and challenges have continued to have a huge impact on contemporary social work practice in the UK. From the second Laming report and the subsequent work of the Social Work Task Force, Social Work Reform Board and The College of Social Work, to the Reclaiming Social Work agenda and Munro Review, the context within which social work is practice has continued to change and this new edition unpicks the challenges, opportunities and threats facing the social workers of today.

This book re-establishes an important contribution to learning from which students, their service users and ultimately society should benefit.

Protecting children from abuse and neglect is a serious and complex area of social work practice and understanding the critical skills of communicating with and listening to children's voices, and those of their advocates and survivors, is essential. In this new edition of a highly-regarded book, the authors offer a strengthened children's rights perspective and explore four main categories of child abuse - emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and physical abuse. The book also considers legal safeguards and protective processes to increase the creativity and confidence of those undertaking such work. 

Locating knowledge and skills within a series of case examples from real life practice and serious case reviews, this book is an indispensable resource for students, professionals and others concerned with protecting children. This second edition has been comprehensively revised and updated to include current research evidence and a focus on the neglected protection needs of sexually exploited young people, children in custody, disabled children, young carers and unaccompanied child migrants.

A core function of social work is to assist, empower, and protect the most vulnerable in society, requiring social workers to often make decisions in complex and challenging situations. This book helps social workers understand their statutory duties, keep up to date with relevant law, legislation and legal processes and learn how to apply this knowledge to social work practice. Using jargon-free language, it provides a grounding in legally appropriate, rights-based social work across services for children and families and child protection, adult care law, youth justice, court work, professional regulation and human rights.

A core function of social work is to assist, empower, and protect the most vulnerable in society, requiring social workers to often make decisions in complex and challenging situations. This book helps social workers understand their statutory duties, keep up to date with relevant law, legislation and legal processes and learn how to apply this knowledge to social work practice. Using jargon-free language, it provides a grounding in legally appropriate, rights-based social work across services for children and families and child protection, adult care law, youth justice, court work, professional regulation and human rights.

Protecting children from abuse and neglect is a serious and complex area of social work practice and understanding the critical skills of communicating with and listening to children's voices, and those of their advocates and survivors, is essential. In this new edition of a highly-regarded book, the authors offer a strengthened children's rights perspective and explore four main categories of child abuse - emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and physical abuse. The book also considers legal safeguards and protective processes to increase the creativity and confidence of those undertaking such work. 

Locating knowledge and skills within a series of case examples from real life practice and serious case reviews, this book is an indispensable resource for students, professionals and others concerned with protecting children. This second edition has been comprehensively revised and updated to include current research evidence and a focus on the neglected protection needs of sexually exploited young people, children in custody, disabled children, young carers and unaccompanied child migrants.

Social workers need to have a sound working knowledge of intervention as they are often balancing complex and sometime stressful circumstances with the individual needs of the service users. Also, as there are a wide range of social work interventions in current practice, students will benefit from knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each model and approach.

This book on effective social work intervention will help students apply and integrate this knowledge in practice, to critically evaluate different methods and to choose the most effective in any particular set of circumstances.

Fully-revised to include new material on value-based practice and direct links to the new Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work, this second edition is essential reading for all social work students.

Social work skills are essential to good practice and more important than ever following changes to the social work curriculum. Students must be able to demonstrate knowledge of core skills within policy, law as well as demonstrating empathy and good communication. This fully-revised student guide, previously published as Social Work Skills with Adults, will help to cement these skills and includes chapters on intervention, empowerment and advocacy, skills for collaborative working, self-presentation and much more. This book will equip social work students with the skills to meet the new and perennial challenges to achieving empowering practice with carers and people who use services. There are chapters on working with families, communities and individuals and how social policy affects all of these groups. Case studies and reflective exercises are used throughout to explore these issues and help link theory to practice.

Current practice in the field was driven by the government White Paper 'Valuing People' (2001) which declared some radical aims for services with people with learning difficulties. Now somewhat compromised by the local authority austerity measures, the goals set by 'Valuing People' are nevertheless still important. This third edition seeks to confirm and strenghten social work values and priciples so that the progress and successes achieved by 'Valuing People' can continue. Case studies and activities draw out the key points and reinforce learning. Summaries of contemporary research are included, as are suggestions for further reading and coverage of current government guidance and policy documents.

By examining the varied roles that a social worker might undertake in this field, the authors portray a positive picture of working with people with learning difficulties: the achievements and satisfaction, and the learning and understanding that can be gained. They also highlight the need for recognition of vulnerability, the risk of isolation, oppression and abuse, and the continuing political struggle to establish and protect the rights of the individual.

Paul Williams has over 40 years' experience of working with people with learning difficulties. He was a founder member of the organisation 'Values into Action' which campaigned for rights, inclusion and community-based services for people with learning difficulties. He is co-author of books on self-advocacy and anti-oppressive practice. A former lecturer in social work at the University of Reading, he is now retired.

Michelle Evans has 14 years of practice in all areas of sensory need, including Deaf/deafness, visual impairment and Deafblindness. She has a first class honours degree in social work and has worked as a care manager in adult services and a social worker in children's services. She has a particular interest in methods of social research which contribute to raising sensory awareness in social work/ care management. She lectures social work students at London South Bank University and develops and delivers sensory awareness training to practitioners and managers.

By using practical examples and interactive features Critical Learning for Social Work Students will help guide you through your degree and on to becoming a fully-developed and critical practitioner. It covers key areas of critical thinking such as developing a clear and logical argument as well as the application of self-evaluation and understanding the 'professional self'. For this edition there is a new chapter on developing emotional intelligence.

More than just another research text, this book remains grounded in social work practice and has clear links to the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work.

More than just another research text, this book remains grounded in social work practice and has clear links to the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work.

Introducing the concept of observation to social work students can be a complex and challenging task. Assessing their observation skills and assignments can be even harder, especially if much of this work takes place implicitly, throughout their training and placements. This book will help students to grasp the fundamentals of social work observation, from the theories and methods to how these can be demonstrated in everyday practice. Skills are covered throughout, as well as effective observation work with different client groups and in different settings. The authors argue that an observant social worker is an effective and resilient one, and demonstrate this through case study material and research summaries.