What role does social work play in human service organizations? How do social workers experience and initiate organizational change? How can they engage and negotiate with managers and other professionals? How does a social worker deal with ethical and interpersonal conflicts within organizations? This book grounds these complex questions in a comprehensive and accessible overview of the organizational context of social work practice.
The second edition of Organisations and Management in Social Work examines the complex organisational settings in which social workers practice and identifies opportunities for taking action for positive change. A robust critique of organisational practices is encouraged throughout the book with an emphasis on active participation in the everyday life of organisations. The new edition covers: - Leadership and supervision - Inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working - Ethical practice and decision-making - Communication and the emotional life of organisations Each chapter includes updated practice examples and reflective questions so readers can apply the knowledge learned to real life practice. It will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of social work. The book will also be a valuable text for front-line practitioners and managers wishing to understand the organisational context of social work.
The third edition of this textbook has been thoroughly revised to meet the needs of today's social work students, professionals and service managers. It illustrates current legislation, policy, procedure and concerns, with additional material included to develop readers' confidence and skills in the context of learning organisations. This book is essential reading for students and practitioners alike, particularly those who need to understand organisation and management theory for study purposes and those who aspire to move into social work management or have been recent promoted. New to this Edition: - Fully revised and reorganised to reflect current legislation and policy - New material added to develop managers' confidence and skills in the context of learning organisations - Experienced new coauthors added to successful writing team
Creating Change in Social Work Practice: Four Essential Tools is strategically designed to help readers hone their ability to understand and create change within their social work practice. The text employs the Knowledge, Ability, and Skill model to assist readers in conceptualizing, envisioning, and creating change. Readers learn to identify the various stages in the process of creating change, as well as how to handle the challenges of change and plan appropriate treatment for change. Each chapter explores the history and efficacy of a featured tool, underscores its unique components and characteristics, provides readers with activities to develop their ability to use the tool, and offers assessments to ensure they know how to effectively exercise all of the pieces of the tool. The specific tools introduced throughout the text include: the conceptualization of change using the Transtheoretical Model to understand behavioral change; creating change using the Solution-Focused Approach; combating challenges to change through Motivational Interviewing; and finally, treatment planning for change. The closing chapter consists of advanced case studies and activities designed to build upon the ability gained from each chapter and foster mastery of the tools. Creating Change in Social Work Practice is an ideal supplementary text for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the discipline. Practitioners in the field can also utilize this text to enhance and strengthen their personal practice. Philip Mongan is an associate professor of social work and the graduate coordinator of the Master of Social Work Program at Radford University.
This social work book is the first of its kind, describing practical steps that social workers can take to shape and influence both policy and politics. It prepares social workers and social work students to impact political action and subsequent policy, with a detailed real-world framework for turning ideas into concrete goals and strategies for effecting change. Tracing the roots of social work in response to systemic social inequality, it clearly relates the tenets of social work to the challenges and opportunities of modern social change. The book identifies the core domains of political social work, including engaging individuals and communities in voting, influencing policy agendas, and seeking and holding elected office. Chapters elaborate on the necessary skills for political social work, featuring discussion, examples, and critical thinking exercises in such vital areas as: Power, empowerment, and conflict: engaging effectively with power in political settings. Getting on the agenda: assessing the political context and developing political strategy. Planning the political intervention: advocacy and electoral campaigns. Empowering voters Persuasive political communication. Budgeting and allocating resources. Evaluating political social work efforts. Making ethical decisions in political social work. Political Social Work is a potent reference for social work professionals, practitioners, and students seeking core political knowledge and skills to practically advance their work. For specialists and generalists alike, it solidifies political action as vital for the evolution of the field.
This volume is a compilation of information on the essentials of management and leadership. The author presents insightful solutions that can help any social worker maximize his or her contributions to the profession. More than 30 widely acclaimed topic experts offer advice for various organizational settings -- health, mental health, research, academic, all nonprofit sizes, and more. The book also offers general management and leadership concepts that enhance these environment-specific skills, including strategies for fundraising, finance, administration, human resources, and public relations. A reflective look at the history of social work also provides great context for the profession's leadership and management status quo.
What role does social work play in human service organisations? How do social workers experience and initiate organisational change? How can they engage and negotiate with managers and other professionals? How does a social worker deal with ethical and interpersonal conflicts within organisations? Organisations and Management in Social Work grounds these complex questions in a comprehensive and accessible overview of the organisational context of social work practice. The book demonstrates how effective service delivery is dependent on organisational and managerial activities and procedures, and emphasises the importance of critiquing existing organisational structures. This invaluable book: " critically examines organisational theory, managerial techniques and organisational structures " develops strategies for ethical and reflective organisational practice " promotes an understanding of how to plan and manage change in learning organisations " helps readers understand the nature of social work professionalism, including partnership and teamwork, and the inherent tensions in human service organisations " discusses important themes such as leadership, supervision, risk, decision making, and accountability " explores the potential for increasing service user and worker participation in organisations " includes extended practice examples and reflective questions. Organisations and Management in Social Work will be essential reading for social work students and professionals who wish to better understand the organisational context in which they work. Dr Mark Hughes is a Lecturer and Dr Michael Wearing is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of New South Wales.
This new practice text provides a series of readings focusing on case management in a number of fields and in a variety of settings with different client populations. Each chapter examines a major component of case management practice by presenting information about an innovative program from a different location around the country. In conjunction, these readings provide a road map to social work case management.In addition to offering up-to-date practice approaches and examining the functions and skills of case management in depth, the authors provide the policy information needed for putting this traditional form of social work practice into today's service delivery context.
This title was first published in 2000: This text focuses on developments in social work and its management. In doing so, it is of necessity multi-disciplinary: research and literature from the fields of management, organization and social policy, as well as social work, are drawn upon. The major theme of the book is change, which, paradoxically, appears to be the major constant. Change is everywhere and living with change is part of the "modern condition". As the various transformations of social work are articulated, their influence becomes apparent. Each process will constitute a theme around which the content of this book is introduced. Although these processes are interdependent, each will be dealt with in turn.
Managers in social work and social care contexts are required to manage a wide range of projects: long-term and short-term, on large and small scales, in partnership with other agencies, and covering a broad range of issues and contexts. Management of these projects requires specific expertise, and this book sets out what these core skills are and how they can be achieved. Topics such as managing resources, assessing risks, and measuring outcomes are covered, as well as how to start and end a project. The authors acknowledge the values and ethics inherent to care environments, as well as the business skills necessary for good management. Detailed case studies demonstrate the ideas in action, and reflective activities, practical tools and action checklists are included throughout. This practical handbook provides a clear and comprehensive guide to how to be an excellent project manager, and is a must-read for all social work and social care managers and post-qualifying social work and social care students.
