Observation and Its Application to Social Work

Observation helps students and social workers to assess dispassionately before intervening. The Tavistock Model of Observation, whic is informaed by psychiatric ideas (especially those of Melanie Klein and Wilfred Bion) forms the theoretical basis of this general book on the role of observation in social work. Karen Tanner and Pat Le Riche have brought together a range of contributions from practitioners in order to discuss the application of ideas to social work education and practice, and to draw attention to the place and value of observation within social work. While the Tavistock Model remains influential, the writers also explore the impact of material from a number of other disciplines, such as behavioural ethnography, psychology and critical social policy, on observation and social work. The central theme of the book is that of power relations, focusing on power in relation to the process of observation, and how observation can be used to counteract oppressive and dehumanizing practices.