Social Worker's Practice Manual

Neil has over 45 years of experience in the caring professions as a practitioner, manager, educator, writer and adviser. He has won awards for his work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from BASW Cymru. He is renowned for his ability to express complex ideas clearly without oversimplifying them and for making theory relevant to practice.

• ContentsWelcome!About the authorAcknowledgementsForeword by Professor Mark DoelPrefaceIntroduction Why a manual?Who is it for?How do I use it?1.Begin at the beginningWhat is social work?Who needs social work?What is the value of social work?2.Attitudes and valuesWhy are you in social work?Why are you in this person's life?Personal and professional values3.Being preparedSocial work knowledgeThe three RsConfidencePreparing yourself4.Making a differenceTheorizing practiceSocial work processesSocial work skillsSocial work tools5.Thinking holisticallyThe organizational contextThe legal and policy contextThe social contextThe political contextThe historical context6.Working in partnershipWith clientsWith carersWith fellow professionalsWhy partnership?7.Equality, diversity and social justiceEquality and differenceDifference and diversityDiscrimination and social justicePitfalls to avoidPrinciples of good practice8.Being a professionalThe alternativesKnowledgeSkillsValuesAccountabilityDevelopmentIdentityPrideAuthentic professionalism9.SpiritualityThe importance of religionBeyond religionThe implications for practice10. Reflective practiceWhat is reflective practice?What is critical practice?What is critically reflective practice?Why do we need critically reflective practice?11. Growth and changeAges and stagesChild developmentAdolescent developmentAdult transitionsGrowing oldFacing deathIdentity and its importance12. Health and well-beingDefining health and well-beingSocial aspects of health and well-beingHealth and disabilityThe social work role in relation to healthMental health and well-beingConclusion13. Human connectionAuthentic connectionListeningGetting the tone rightNonverbal communicationEmpathySocial factors14. Working with familiesFamily ideologyFamily problems and solutionsFamily scriptsPower dynamicsConclusion15. Working with groupsWhy use groupwork?Planning and purposeManaging the dynamicsRising to the challenges16. Working with communitiesWhy work with communities?Capacity buildingEffective networkingConclusion17. Residential workHome or institution?Time and spaceConclusion18. Court workWhy court work?What is expected?What skills are needed?Conclusion 19. Report writing and record keepingWhy we writeWhat we writeHow we write20. Managing conflictClarifying conflictThe four levelsThe RED approach Conclusion21. Loss, grief and traumaThe grief paradox: prevalence and invisibilityBeyond stagesResponding to lossResponding to traumaConclusion 22. Risk and decision makingBalancing riskAssessing riskManaging riskConclusion 23. Focusing on outcomesWhat is an outcome?Why are outcomes important?Systematic practiceConclusion24. Handling dilemmas and tensionsWhat is a dilemma?Managing dilemmas and tensionsConclusion25. Handling criticismDoing society's dirty workUnderstanding the mediaComplaintsDon't take it personally!Conclusion 26. Pitfalls to avoidTypes of pitfall ThoughtsFeelingsActionsValuesConclusion27. Surviving and thrivingMotivation and moraleStress and burnoutSelf-careSurviving and thriving28. Managing your placement experienceClarifying expectationsFocusing on learningUsing supervisionConclusion 29. Managing your careerWhat is a career?Upwards or onwards?The importance of consolidationConclusion 30. Keeping the learning goingThe importance of learningObstacles to learningMaking learning happenSelf-directed learningConclusionConclusionGuide to further learningReferences

From the inaugural, undergraduate assignment submission, through to the final edit of the most experienced social work practitioner's thesis, there is little in social work that is not highly influenced by the work of Neil Thompson - and this book confirms why. Through chapters that insightfully articulate the attitudes and values that underpin our profession, being prepared and making a difference, to everyday challenges such as working in partnership with others and on into the nuance of professional practice via managing conflict and handling criticism, the essence of good social work practice is beautifully illustrated in this book. Written with authority, confidence and providing vital helpful extras such as 'key points', 'reflective moments' and 'value exercises' to further expand our learning, this book is a gift back to the profession and should be cherished.