Full Description
Social workers often have to handle a great deal of negativity in their working lives. This book celebrates social work practice at its most positive and influential and, in doing so, contributes to a growing literature on critical best practice.
Focused on 12 unique and compelling stories of social work with older people, the authors:
- Provide a fresh and realistic insight into life as a social worker, and the dilemmas and difficulties that practitioners typically face
- Illustrate how knowledge, theory and research are integrated in professional decision-making and action
- Show social workers analyzing their own cases and include reflective questions to help readers formulate their own learning and thereby develop their own practice
This book provides students on qualifying courses with an invaluable perspective on real life practice, and gives qualified practitioners the opportunity to reflect on and better their own practice.
Contents
1. Introduction
The Shape of the Book
The Importance of the 'Best Practice' Approach
PART I: RELATIONSHIPS
2. Relationships: Introduction
3. Rachel and Michael: Careful Relationship Building
4. Sarah, John and Mary: a Carer Under Pressure
5. Eric, Len and Nina: Growing Older with a Learning Disability
PART II: WORKING CREATIVELY IN ORGANISATIONS
6. Working Creatively in Organisations: Introduction
7. Maya and Bill: Balancing the Personal and the Professional
8. Trish and Stella: Finding Creative Solutions
9. Sinead and Pauline: a Personal Budget
PART III: DIFFERENCE AND DISAGREEMENT
10. Difference and Disagreement: Introduction
11. Sue and Alice: Working with Complex Family Dynamics
12. Fiona, Jack and Esther: Supporting Unwise Decisions
13. Judy and Dorothy: the Older Person as Expert
PART IV: RIGHTS, RISKS AND GOOD JUDGEMENT
14. Rights, Risks and Good Judgement: Introduction
15. Nada and Joan: Making Difficult Decisions
16. Jane and Mr Wilson: Using Legal Powers
17. Matt and David: Positive Risk-taking
18. Conclusion
References.
