This practical guide will help students navigate through all core areas of their course by providing them with a comprehensive introduction to contemporary social work. Written by subject experts, including best-selling Transforming Social Work Practice authors, this essential guide will introduce students to key theory and approaches, helping them to develop and build the skills and knowledge that they will need for practice.
This book serves as an introductory reader for understanding a professional competencies framework for social work through a new approach. It not only discusses what professional competencies are and why they are significant, but it also shows how to develop a professional competencies approach, measure and research competencies, and learn how to use them to empower professional identity and career development. There has been growing interest to define the social work profession within a professional competencies framework. Professional competencies are considered in their complexity as a triangle of knowledge, skills and values. They are not solely a tool for education and practice, but they are also important for professional socialization and identity in social work. A professional competencies approach has been used to define standards and expectations for social workers-practitioners; it is an evaluation tool for formal education and lifelong learning programs, provides guidance for field practice and placements for social work students, and could be a frame for distinguishing levels of professional expertise. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of a professional competencies approach in social work with 10 chapters organized in four sections: Part I: Understanding a Professional Competencies Approach, including Criticisms of the Competency-Based Education Approach Part II: Major Areas of Professional Competencies, including Leadership and Professional Socialisation Part III: Measuring Professional Competencies and Education Outcomes, including How to Conceptualise, Operationalise and Measure Professional Competencies in Social Work Part IV: Professional Competencies and Professional Development, including A Model of Holistic Competence in Social Work and the unique Professional Capabilities Framework Social Work in the Frame of a Professional Competencies Approach is essential reading for social work instructors, academics and national professional associations interested in developing or reviewing their professional competencies framework. It is an invaluable resource for experts in statutory bodies that set up a legislative framework of social work practice or work in the accreditation of social work education programs. The book is useful for social work students interested in understanding the theoretical background of social work, as well as for field practitioners who wish to use professional competencies for their self-reflection, self-evaluation and professional identity.
Should you respond to friend requests from service users? How can you be sure that your own online profile is secure? Do service users understand the global and permanent nature of social media posts? Mapped against UK regulatory bodies’ standards this book responds to new complex issues raised by social media. Joanne Westwood draws on evidence and contemporary examples from practice to contextualise developments in social media and outline how this has shaped social work practice in recent years. She unpicks the potential pitfalls and opportunities social media presents for individual practice, organisations and service users. After using the case study questions, quizzes and reflective activities you will be able to confidently apply your knowledge of the 4 key issues: · privacy · confidentiality · regulation · professional ethics and values
This concise introduction to evidence-based social work is a student-friendly overview of the issues and methods most frequently encountered while preparing for evidence-based social work practice. Part I defines terms and critical issues, introducing students to the language and importance of evidence-based practice and critical thinking. Chapters will explain how to search for and evaluate evidence, how to ask the right questions, how to develop standards, and how to make use of the best research. Part II illustrates practical applications, including such topics as cognitive-behavioral approaches to suicide risks, manualized treatment with children, treating juvenile delinquents, and interventions for OCD, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, depression, and recovery. This much-needed overview familiarizes students with the process and practice of evidence-based social work, teaching them to be critical thinkers and judicious decision-makers. The guidelines it distills are equally valuable to seasoned practitioners seeking to better serve their clients, making this an excellent foundation for the study and practice of evidence-based social work.
Social Change and Social Work discusses and examines how social work is challenged by social, political and economic tendencies going on in current societies. The authors ask how social work as a discipline and practice is encountering global and local transformations. Divided into three parts, topics covered include the changing social work mandate throughout history; social work paradigms and theoretical considerations; phenomenological social work; practice research; and gender and generational research. Taken together, the chapters in this anthology provide an authoritative and up-to-date overview of current discussions within the European social work research community.
This new text illuminates the essential information about health and social work critical to understanding today’s complex health care systems and policies. Chapters highlight current practice, policy, and research in different settings and with special populations. Readers learn how to advocate for the individuals, families, and communities they serve to help improve health and well-being for all. All those interested in micro, mezzo, and macro practices in a healthcare setting will appreciate this rich resource. Highlights include: Each chapter speaks to the interconnections between practice, policy, and research and how they are integrated to inform social work and health. Unique chapters dedicated to special populations such as children and families, older adults, immigrants, persons with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities provide a deeper understanding of the health care issues specific to these groups. Thorough coverage of the role of social workers in a variety of settings such as substance abuse, correctional systems, public health, and integrated behavioral health care. An in-depth discussion of the values and ethical issues in a health care environment. An intersectionality lens used throughout promotes a greater understanding of a client’s multiple status of race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, education level, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identification. Detailed case examples developed by professionals in the field in Parts II and III accompanied by discussion questions further enhance an understanding of the issues. Highlights how social workers advocate for social justice to promote good health and well-being for all. On-line instructor's resources including Power Points, how chapter content is tied to the 2015 CSWE Educational Policy Accreditation Standards (EPAS), answers to discussion questions, including approaches that instructors can use with cases and research, as well as a sample syllabus with suggested options for instructors to modify for different courses. Intended as a core text for MSW and advanced BSW courses on health and social work, social work practice in health care, health and wellness, or integrative behavioral health taught in social work, public health, or gerontology programs, this book is also of value in social work practice courses that focus on health care and special populations. Social workers practicing in the health care field will also appreciate this book.
Learning through practice lies at the heart of social work education, providing the opportunity for students to develop and employ the skills, experience and knowledge they need to become effective social workers. This exciting new addition to Palgrave's Practical Social Work series provides an integrated and user-friendly approach to practice learning by putting placements within a broader learning framework. Rather than treating placements as an isolated aspect of the social work degree, Practice Learning in Social Work shows how they are relevant to all aspects of the social work experience. Divided in to three parts, this book's pragmatic approach mirrors students' own journey as they progress from preparation for practice, through to actual experience, and then beyond this to support personal and professional development right up to qualification as a Newly Qualified Social Worker. With a strong emphasis on service users and carers as central stake holders, Practice Learning in Social Work illustrates the practical nature of the profession with realistic case scenarios based on real life learning experiences, reflective learning exercises and practice led research references throughout. Progress checklists, linked to the Professional Capabilities Framework, also provide readers with the opportunity to assess their own strengths and learning needs.
Transformative Social Work Practice presents an innovative and integrative approach towards critically reflective practice with an interweaving of micro, mezzo, and macro applications to real world demands. The authors explore issues commonly addressed by social workers, including health, mental health, addictions, schools, and family and community violence, while challenging assumptions and promoting ethically-driven, evidence-based practice perspectives to advocate for social justice and reduce disparities. The book is about redefining social work practice to meet the current and complex needs of diverse and vulnerable individuals, families, and communities in order to enhance their strengths in an era of unprecedented technological growth, globalization, and change.
This book will provide you with a clear and accessible guide to the process of conducting a literature review, giving you the skills, confidence and knowledge required to produce your own successful review. Drawing on their wealth of teaching experience, the authors outline best practice in: -Choosing your topic -Effective search strategies -Taking notes -Organising your material -Accurate referencing -Managing the process of writing your literature review -Enhancing evidence-based practice. Trying to complete a literature review, research project or dissertation as part of your social work degree? This book will prove the perfect companion. Robin Kiteley is Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield. Chris Stogdon is a social work educator and practitioner.
This is the first book ever to be published on arts use in social work. Bringing together theoretical connections between arts and social work, and with practice examples of arts in micro and macro social work practice from around the world, the book aims to inspire the reader with new ideas. It provides specific skills, defines what is social rather than fine or projective art use, and explains the theoretical connection between art and social work. It has chapters from all over the world, showing how arts are adjusted to different cultural contexts. Section I explores the theoretical connections between art and social work, including theories of resilience, empowerment, inclusion and creativity as they relate to art use in social work. Section II describes specific interventions with different populations. Each chapter also summarizes the skills and hands-on knowledge needed for social workers to use the practical elements of using arts for social workers not trained in these fields. The third section does the same for arts use in community work and as social change and policy. Using Art in Social Work Practice provides theoretical but also hands-on knowledge about using arts in social work. It extends the fields of both social work and arts therapy and serves as a key resource for students, academics and practitioners interested in gaining the theoretical understanding and specific skills for using social arts in social work, and for arts therapists interested in using social theories.
