In the early 1970s general practitioners were well aware that they were being asked to deal not only with physical illness in their patients but also with the stresses relating to social and emotional problems. Increasingly often they were working together with health visitors and social workers in attempting to respond more effectively to these demands. Originally published in 1972, this study describes the attachment of a social worker to a group general medical practice in London, indicating why, for all social groups, the general practice is an appropriate point at which psychosocial problems may be identified and treated. The authors describe the nature and range of patients’ problems that come to light in the consulting room; how patients present their problems to the social worker; and the kind of help the social worker is able to offer. They explore the extent to which the general practice setting provides opportunities for preventive therapy and further describe how social work in general practice can most effectively be related to existing social services in the community, particularly to the reorganised personal social services. Their findings are supported throughout by illuminating case studies. The book also discusses the integration of the social worker into the general practice team, the problems that have to be solved and the mutual enlightenment that results. This emerges as an extremely encouraging and instructive experiment, which will immediately interest social service departments and social workers, doctors and nurses, both students and those in practice. The wide spectrum of social problems encountered and dealt with by the social worker in a general practice make it a particularly stimulating account.

This book presents guidelines for good practice in community care work. It describes the planning and implementation of pioneering initiatives in the community, analyses their effectiveness and outlines their practical implications.

Carefully researched and highly readable, this textbook explores what enables good and effective practice in local authority field social work delivered to children, young people and their families. The book sets the context for local authority social work practice and then chapter-by-chapter takes the reader carefully through the social work process. Detailed case studies work really well in embedding the legal and theoretical context firmly within the practice challenges of safeguarding children. Overall the book is about social workers effecting change so that children can continue to live successfully with their families and within their communities. Key features include: " Strong links between theory and practice; " Core themes relevant to training and practice- assessment, decision-making, interprofessional collaboration and reflective practice; " Accessible and jargon-free, also includes a useful glossary of relevant legislation; " Learning points and case study exercises in each chapter. Written in a lively and engaging style, students and newly qualified social workers will find this book provides a helpful introduction to children and families local authority social work as it exists today. It will be invaluable for students taking courses in child and family social work and child protection. The book will also appeal to experienced practitioners who want to explore action research or create the space for reflective practice as part of their continuous professional development. It will help other professionals involved in supporting children develop insight into the practice of social workers.

All social work students study theory and undertake practice placements. Integrating the two – so that each informs the other – is both essential and notoriously tricky. This accessible book demystifies the process and offers helpful evidence-based strategies for doing it successfully. Structured around different approaches to learning, Integrating Social Work Theory and Practice covers: Adult and student centred learning Learning and teaching techniques and assessment methods How to locate and identify theory How to critically analyse theory Key theoretical concepts in social science Issues surrounding anti-oppressive theory and practice Methods of intervention Integrating theory and practice in academic work and on placements. This essential text helps students to identify, critically analyse and apply theory appropriately, enhancing their practice. It will be useful to all social work students struggling with the theory-practice gap.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. This book explores a variety of physical, mental, and lifestyle challenges faced by community populations. Some of the topics discussed include homelessness, smoking trends among certain populations, mental health issues among different age and gender groups, substance abuse, and domestic violence. The book also examines community health promotion, nutrition intervention, contraception, and more.

This book supports and develops the communication and interviewing skills of professional practitioners and student practitioners in social work, counselling, and the health professions. Combining work on personal and social constructs, the search for meaning, and ecological theory, this book both provides an integrated discussion of practice and presents a balanced approach when discussing psychological, biological, and social influences on individual well-being. Furthermore, it emphasises the influence of social contexts on behaviour and well-being, as well as valuing and encouraging the application of practitioners’ prior experience and learning (APEL) to new knowledge and understanding. Containing a range of practice examples to stimulate learning, this book promotes a collaboration between the professions, and welcomes the contributions of people who use services, patients, and clients. Communication and Interviewing Skills for Practice in Social Work, Counselling and the Health Professions will be of interest to all undergraduate and postgraduate social work students, as well as new and experienced professional health care practitioners.

Health services practice or working with clients facing health issues requires diverse approaches and wide-ranging knowledge. In this fully revised and expanded second edition, Melissa Petrakis draws on the experience and expertise of leading researchers and practitioners to provide a guide to the disparate settings in which social workers are engaged and the conceptual frameworks and skills needed for effective practice. Including new chapters on compassion in healthcare, neoliberalism and health, social justice, suicidal distress, and health social work in regional, rural and remote settings, the book begins by examining the nature of health social work and considers its core values and principles. Part I also provides an overview of the social determinants of health. Part II explores key areas of practice including trauma-informed practice, mental health, aged care, dual diagnosis and working with people living with disability. Part III looks at politicised issues, reform agendas in the field including indigenous approaches to health, refugee health, and concludes by considering how a focus on well-being informed by Maori approaches could provide new insights into better practice. Underpinning the book throughout is a clear guide to assessment procedures, case management, strengths-based practices and developing effective partnerships and collaboration. All this makes Social Work Practice in Health a key reference tool for social work students and practitioners.

This textbook provides a grounding in complexity theory, demonstrating how it can influence and shape social work interventions in policy, management, and practice, as well as forming an epistemological and methodological basis for research. It provides a contemporary theoretical basis for social work practice, equipping social workers to work in a 21st-Century world. The authors argue that the history of social work demonstrates the profession's engagement with the social and structural problems of each era since its emergence 150 years ago. However, in the 21st Century, such things as globalisation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change have highlighted that existing theories and practice models are insufficient to the task of working with the complicatedness of contemporary life in a fast-changing world. Distilling the central tenets of Complexity Theory and the notion of complex adaptive systems in partnership with pragmatism, the book provides practice perspectives and guidelines which build on social work's enduring commitment to understanding the person-in-context. The recognition that social workers require conceptual and theoretical agility to work across micro, meso and macro 'levels' remains central, but the argument is made that their focus and practice must primarily be at the meso level. The authorship of combined academic and practice expertise enables such perspectives to be brought to life through the theoretical and practical analysis of conceptual and 'real-world' challenges. The book consists of 13 chapters organized in three sections: Part I: Complex Practice in a Complex World Part II: Thinking Complexity in Practice Part III: Thinking Complexity in Public Policy, Research and Education Complexity Theory for Social Work Practice encourages social workers to 'think complexity' and 'act pragmatically'. It is intended for final-year social work students; academics and researchers working in a range of disciplines, primarily in the social work field but also in the areas of sociology, psychology and anthropology; and practitioners in policy, research, management and practice settings.

This book represents the sharing of knowledge and experiences that is cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary and across countries. It aims bringing to the social work practitioner a wealth of understanding about situations, practices and cultures that could not possibly have been experienced first-hand about mental health. The book provides cross cultural perspectives on recovery; strengths based practice, mindfulness, disaster & mental health, community mental health and other related aspects. These contributions from across the world, from different cultures, and from vastly different experiences are a celebration of the global practice of social work. The series of chapters in this book makes a contribution to a deeper understanding of various facets of social work in mental health. The complexities elucidated here can be addressed by embracing the power of teamwork, the power of visionary leadership and the power of reflexivity. The book offers an opportunity for practitioners to explore all these in detail.