Description
Helping children, disabled people, the unemployed, the elderly or homeless people can be inspiring work. However you can only help other people effectively if you understand your role clearly and know how to navigate the organisation in which you work. Professional Practice in Human Service Organisations examines what it means to be a professional in human service work, and how to develop excellence in professional practice.
Making explicit what is often held as tacit knowledge in day to day practice, the authors explain the dynamics of human service organisations. They outline the challenges worker can face in caring for vulnerable people while at the same time fulfilling expectations of management and funding bodies. They explain the importance of understanding the complex networks of service delivery systems, including the role of information technology. They also examine how workers can maintain professional relations with clients, colleagues and other workers by developing skills in advocacy and in handling conflict, complaints and ethical dilemmas.
Professional Practice in Human Service Organisations is essential reading for practitioners new to roles in social work, community work, youth work and related fields.
Table of Contents
List of tables
Introduction
1. Understanding organisations
2. Leadership in human service organisations
3. Scoping the context
4. Recording and report-writing
5. Information development and management in human service organisations
6. Building and maintaining professional relations
7. Supervision and support
8. Managing conflict
9. Power and advocacy
10. Administrative ethics in human service organisations
11. Preparing for and dealing with complaints
12. Professional ethics and ethical reasoning
References
Index
