This is the first book to extend the narrative lens to explore the contribution of narrative to social work values and ethics, social policy and our understanding of the self in social, cultural and political context.

Narrative in Social Work Practice features first-person accounts by social workers who have successfully integrated narrative theory and approaches into their practice. Contributors describe innovative and effective interventions with a wide range of individuals, families, and groups facing a variety of life challenges. One author describes a family in crisis when a promising teenage girl suddenly takes to her bed for several years; another brings narrative practice to a Bronx trauma center; and another finds that poetry writing can enrich the lives of people living with dementia. In some chapters, the authors turn narrative techniques inward and use them as vehicles of self-discovery. Settings range from hospitals and clinics to a graduate school and a case management agency. Throughout, Narrative in Social Work Practice showcases the flexibility and appeal of narrative methods and demonstrates how they can be empowering and fulfilling for clients and social workers alike. The differential use of narrative techniques fulfills the mission and core competencies of the social work profession in creative and surprising ways. Stories of clients and workers are, indeed, powerful.

The purpose of this book is to explain the process in which individuals tell and retell their narratives, especially during developmental and other transitions in order to create meaning and continuity in their lives. The other goal is to clarify the nature and types of narratives that emerge in people’s natural environments during such transitions and during counseling sessions with social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, nurses, and other service providers. Further, it also describes practical narratives and approaches and includes relevant case examples to illustrate how those approaches have been applied effectively in social work and other helping professions. The text is organized in two sections. Part One is focused on the theoretical foundations of narrative practice and on five basic principles. The five chapters of Part Two demonstrate the application of advanced narrative skills in practice with clients who are challenged by various life span transitions. Clients’ narratives are included in each chapter to illustrate particular advanced narrative skills and major discussion points. The cultural context of such narratives may involve a combination of such factors as clients’ race and ethnicity, language, religion and spirituality, gender, age, sexual orientation, disabling conditions, social class, and location. Tables and figures included in each chapter illustrate specifically how particular narrative strategies can be used with clients and also clarify how to use those approaches in combination with other practice frameworks, including family systems, task-centered, crisis, solution-focused, group mutual aid, cognitive behavioral, and brief theoretical approaches. In addition, to the individual, family, community, organizational, and cultural narratives, the book also includes other story forms such as poetry, metaphors, proverbs, parables, letters, personal journals, art, and music.

Narrative-Based Practice in Health and Social Care outlines a vision of how witnessing narratives, paying attention to them, and developing an ability to question them creatively, can make the person’s emerging story the central focus of health and social care, and of healing. This text gives an account of the practical application of ideas and skills from contemporary narrative studies to health and social care. Promoting narrative-based practice in everyday encounters with patients and clients, and in supervision, teaching, teamwork and management, it presents "Conversations Inviting Change," an established narrative-based model of interactional skills. Underpinned by an account of theory from narrative studies and related fields, including communication theory and systems thinking, it is written for students and practitioners across a broad range of professions in primary and secondary health care and social care. More information about "Conversations Inviting Change" is available at www.conversationsinvitingchange.com. This website includes podcasts, presentations and further teaching material as well as details of forthcoming courses, and is continually updated with information about the approach described in this book.

This exciting new book provides an overview of fifteen different contemporary social work practice settings, spanning across the statutory, voluntary, private and third sectors. It serves as the perfect introduction to the various roles social workers can have and the numerous places they can work, equipping students with the knowledge, skills and values required to work in areas ranging from mental health to fostering and adoption, and from alcohol and drug treatment services to youth offending. Each chapter provides: An overview of the setting, including the role of the social worker, how service users gain access to the service and key issues, definitions or terms specific to the setting Legislation and policy guidance related to the specific setting The key theories and methods related to the setting Best practice approaches and the benefits and challenges of working within the setting Case examples illustrating the application of the information to practice Social work students will find this an invaluable handbook that they will refer to time and again throughout their education and into their assessed and supported year of employment. Contributors: Mark Baldwin, Jo Bell, Jenny Clifford, Jill Chonody, Clare Evans, Benedict Fell, Alinka Gearon, Issy Harvey, Caroline Hickman, Tony Jeffs, Debbie Martin, Malcolm Payne, Justin Rogers, Sue Taplin, Barbra Teater, John Watson, Michele Winter. "It is an excellent student introduction to this diverse profession. Full of information that provides a thought provoking read." Andrew Ellery, Social Care Professional "This book really is an excellent resource for social work students at an introductory level and for preparation for placement levels. It provides a comprehensive overview of a range of service user groups as well as specific issues such as domestic violence, homelessness and substance use. Each section is structured around the policy and legislative context and includes comment on theory, challenges and anti-oppressive practice with case examples to aid learning. The focus on the settings within which social work is practiced is particularly welcome and provides an essential companion to introductory books which look more at values, professional behaviour and skills. The range of different settings covered provides excellent preparation for students about to start a placement. The sections on rehabilitation of offenders and self-harm highlight topics that are often given less attention but may well be encountered by students on placement. I will certainly be including this book as essential reading for students on introductory and practice preparation modules." Allan Rose, Social Work Lecturer, Brunel University, UK

First published in 1999, Jokinen , Juhila and Poso comprises both theoretical/reflexive articles and articles based on empirical social constructionist studies. It provokes new ways of looking at social work practices as interpretative and interactive processes. In addition to this theoretical and methodological contribution, the volume provides empirically based material on the practical implications of an alliance between social work and social constructionism.

Social Work: Seeking Relevancy Beyond the Postmodern Era critically examines major issues that social work education and practice must confront if social work is to remain as a mainline profession. As a social work student or professional, you will be exposed to issues in social work that normally are not covered in mainline social work literature such as the use of hypertechnology, the disjuncture of science and social work, problems with social work theories, and the challenge of reconstructing the social work profession. This important book examines these issues and offers an analysis to assist you with taking social work into the next millennium.

Social Work with Groups: Mining the Gold examines a wide array of varieties of social group work practice, from corrections through empowerment and international issues. It explores ways to deal with youth violence (following the shootings at Columbine High School), issues of social exclusion, empowerment practice, groups in correctional settings, group work practice with seniors, gender diversity, multicultural groups, teleconferencing groups, and education for social work group practice. Every chapter of this timely and important volume reflects the "gold" to be mined in the use of groups in social work.

Generality of the Change -- Organizational Supports -- Termination, Evaluation, and Follow-Up of Change in Organizations -- Evaluation of Social Work Practice with Organizations -- Types of Evaluation -- Structure of Evaluation -- Logic Model -- Information and Data Sources -- Roles in Evaluation -- Straight Talk about Organizational Life -- Conclusion -- Grand Challenge: "Achieve Equal Opportunity and Justice"--Main Points -- Exercises -- References -- Credits -- Glossary/Index