Empowering practice?

Carol Lupton is Director of the Social Services Research and Information Unit, University of Portsmouth. Paul Nixon is Commissioning Officer, Family Group Conferences, Social Services Department, Hampshire County Council.

• Contents: The dilemmas of empowerment; Partnership and empowerment in children's services; Lessons from New Zealand; Empowering professionals?; International perspectives; Empowerment in process?; Assessing outcomes in child welfare Martin Stevens; Empowering outcomes?; Conclusion.

"This book provides a welcome intellectual analysis of empowerment. There is a comprehensive literature review, and the topic is located in its policy and practice context with a sound theoretical perspective ... it is to be hoped that it will find its way onto social work courses, and into post-qualification training ... the book should be helpful in advancing a number of very important debates in children and families social work." Community Care