Best Practice with Children and Families: Critical Social Work Stories

ISBN-13: 9781137003010 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 224 str.

Barry Cooper

Opis

Social work practice with children, young people and families is complex, highly skilled - and fascinating. Writing about social work increasingly acknowledges the complexities and uncertainties of practice but rarely features the voice of the social worker themselves. This book takes a different approach, that of Critical Best Practice: a constructive, realistic and strengths-based approach that takes as its starting point the telling and analysing of in depth stories about 'live' practice.

The reader is encouraged to join the social work practitioner or manager as they engage with the everyday dilemmas and uncertainties of 21st century practice. Ten narratives, based round the themes of relationships, risk, and negotiation & problem solving provide varied opportunities for critical reflection and learning about social work in different contexts. Insights are offered into social work with children, from young babies to adolescents, and families with differing needs in different parts of the UK: England, Scotland and Wales.

Spis treści

1. Introduction; Andy Rixon, Barry Cooper and Jean Gordon 2. Telling Stories: A journey into narratives of practice; Barry Cooper, Jean Gordon and Andy Rixon PART I: RELATIONSHIPS 3. Relationships; Andy Rixon 4. Relationships in intensive short term work; Niall Casserley and Andy Rixon 5. Relationships in a therapeutic context; Michelle Hyams-Ssekasi and Andy Rixon 6. Managing relationships; Michael Waite and Andy Rixon PART II: RISK, UNCERTAINTY AND JUDGEMENT 7. Working with risk: Fine judgements and difficult decisions; Jean Gordon 8. Assessing risk: A team approach; Suzanne Lyus, Wendy Wyatt-Thomas and Jean Gordon with Jayne Strange and Becky Hopkins 9. 'Trying to get it right' with David: Addressing the risk of sexually harmful behaviour; Jock Mickshik and Jean Gordon 10. Myra: A balancing act; Clive Rosenthal and Jean Gordon 11. Taking risks with Alannah; Marie Brown and Jean Gordon PART III: POWER, NEGOTIATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING 12. Power and negotiation in practice: From problems to solutions; Barry Cooper 13. Negotiation and resistance: It's all about the child; Naomi Gillard and Barry Cooper 14. Negotiation without power: Mediating post-adoption contact arrangements in a Facebook world; Jenny Jackson and Barry Cooper 15. Negotiating solutions; Pat Barrow and Barry Cooper Conclusion; Jean Gordon, Andy Rixon and Barry Cooper References.

O autorze

Barry Cooper is a Lecturer in Social Work at the Open University, UK. He is a qualified social worker who has practised, taught, researched and published on social work for 30 years.

Jean Gordon is an Associate Lecturer at the Open University in Scotland, UK. She is also a researcher and a qualified social worker.

Andy Rixon is a Lecturer (Children and Young People) at the Open University, UK. He is also a qualified social worker.