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Effective Social Work with Children and Families
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Effective Social Work with Children and Families
A Skills Handbook



February 2012 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Social work with children and families is constantly in the headlines and social workers' decisions are subject to ever increasing scrutiny at all levels. This aspirational book supports students and newly qualified social workers and suggests practical ways in which they might thrive, rather than just survive, in practice

Written at a time when Social Work Reform Board and the Munro Enquiry are charged with looking at issues of effectiveness within children and families social work, the book tackles the different challenges that students and practitioners can be faced with, outlining common pitfalls and how to avoid these.

Key topics covered include:

- Legislation and policy

- Child development

- Safeguarding and child protection

- Assessment

- Communication

- Looking after yourself

Reflective questions are used throughout the book, ensuring that students critically evaluate their own practice. Case examples and case studies drawn from the authors' recent practice are included throughout the book to illuminate the realities of contemporary social work with children and families.

This text will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, particularly as they prepare to go on placement. It will also provide valuable reading for qualified social workers who are interested in fresh and effective approaches to practice.

 
What Do Social Workers do?
 
Social Work Theories, Values and Methods
Where does your practice fit?

 
 
Legislation and Policy
What you need to have at your fingertips to be effective

 
 
Child Development
The importance of having a sound understanding about life stages in children

 
 
Communication
How to improve your skills

 
 
Assessment
Your role in this complex dynamic

 
 
Safeguarding, Chid Protection and Your Chance to Make a Difference
 
Analysis
Critical Skills for Effectiveness

 
 
Effective Planning
 
Recording
Purpose, Importance, Techniques

 
 
Working In and Around the Organisation
 
Looking after Yourself
 
Conclusion

There are excellent links to serious case reviews, policy and legislation which helps the reader transfer what they read into their workplace. This is an excellent up-to-date book which would be very suitable for social work students as well as social workers undertaking their assessed year in practice.

Hayley Palfreyman
Kingston University

This text allows students to understand the fundamentals of social work and the impact it can have on children.

Miss Ella Malton
Department of Health & Social Studies, Grimsby Institute of HE And FE
April 4, 2017

A helpful and important guide for students who will be intending to work with young people

Mr David John Ellicott
Sociology and Politics, Nottingham Trent University
August 10, 2016

This is a great book to provide an overview of the knowledge required when working in social work with children and families. The reflective questions and case studies provide a practice perspective, which is relevant for when students are preparing for their practice placements.

Mrs NICOLA HOWARD
School of Human Sciences, Swansea University
February 19, 2016

This book give students a overall view of working with children and families. Exploring areas of legislation, policy and the process needed for social work. Good text for students to use.

Miss Ella Malton
Department of Health & Social Studies, Grimsby Institute of HE & FE
April 13, 2015

This book provides a straightforward easily accessed text which approaches issues in accessible and understandable way.

Mr David Hambling
Faculty of Sport, Health & Social Care, Gloucestershire University
October 13, 2014

Linked very well to cared for and looked after children module and safeguarding

Mrs Paula Hastie-Roberts
School of Health Care & Early Years, Blackpool and the Fylde College
March 21, 2014

This is a useful text for helping students and newly qualified social workers to understand the processes and procedures of modern social work with children and families. However, it is rather light on advice and theory about how to improve specific skills. It touches on important points, such as working with resistant families and talking to children, but does not go into enough depth.

Mr Dan Burrows
Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University
February 19, 2014

A comprehensive, in-depth and thorough guide into the demands, complexities and tensions that exist within children and families work.

Mr Warren Smith
School of Health and Wellbeing, Wolverhampton University
October 10, 2013

Useful text for children and families module. Focus on skills makes it a good text for my students who work on a group presentation learning about multi-disciplinary working in child safeguarding/protection practice

Ms Debbie Amas
Family and Community Studies (Peterborough), Anglia Ruskin University
August 16, 2013

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

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ISBN: 9780857027306
£35.99
ISBN: 9780857027290
£111.00

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