Best Practice with Older People

KAREN JONES is former Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of the West of England, where she lead the post-qualifying award in adult social work. Karen has co-edited 'Best Practice in Social Work: Critical Perspectives' with Barry Cooper and Harry Ferguson, which was published by Palgrave in 2008. She is also joint author of the highly successful 'Surviving Your Social Work Placement' with Rob Lomax, Sarah Leigh and Chris Gay. SUSANNA WATSON has been working as a social worker since 2001, specialising in work with adults with physical impairments and older people, as part of a community 'adult care' team. She has a particular interest in building bridges between practice and theory, promoting social work and in encouraging social workers to think critically and positively about what they do. Susanna contributed a chapter to 'Best Practice in Social Work: Critical Perspectives', under the pseudonym Alison Gardener.

• 1. IntroductionThe Shape of the BookThe Importance of the 'Best Practice' ApproachPART I: RELATIONSHIPS2. Relationships: Introduction3. Rachel and Michael: Careful Relationship Building4. Sarah, John and Mary: a Carer Under Pressure5. Eric, Len and Nina: Growing Older with a Learning DisabilityPART II: WORKING CREATIVELY IN ORGANISATIONS6. Working Creatively in Organisations: Introduction7. Maya and Bill: Balancing the Personal and the Professional8. Trish and Stella: Finding Creative Solutions9. Sinead and Pauline: a Personal BudgetPART III: DIFFERENCE AND DISAGREEMENT10. Difference and Disagreement: Introduction11. Sue and Alice: Working with Complex Family Dynamics12. Fiona, Jack and Esther: Supporting Unwise Decisions13. Judy and Dorothy: the Older Person as ExpertPART IV: RIGHTS, RISKS AND GOOD JUDGEMENT14. Rights, Risks and Good Judgement: Introduction15. Nada and Joan: Making Difficult Decisions16. Jane and Mr Wilson: Using Legal Powers17. Matt and David: Positive Risk-taking18. ConclusionReferences.

'This book makes an excellent case for social work with older people. By highlighting real practice examples, it brings to life the contribution of social workers to the lives of older men and women who use personal social services. I will confidently recommend this book to students and believe that it will become a valuable addition to the literature on social work with older people'. - Dr Mo Ray, Senior Lecturer, Keele University, UK 'Social work with older people is under threat from government doubts about social work, the priority given to work with children and uncertainty about what can be achieved by working with older people. This book is thus hugely important in terms of how it illustrates how social work can be of huge benefit to older people as well as rewarding for the social worker. It should be a 'must read' on all social work courses'. - Professor Robin means, University of the West of England, UK