The Social Worker's Practice Manual

Contents
Welcome!
About the author
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Professor Mark Doel
Preface

Introduction
Why a manual?
Who is it for?
How do I use it?
1.Begin at the beginning
What is social work?
Who needs social work?
What is the value of social work?
2.Attitudes and values
Why are you in social work?
Why are you in this person's life?
Personal and professional values
3.Being prepared
Social work knowledge
The three Rs
Confidence
Preparing yourself
4.Making a difference
Theorizing practice
Social work processes
Social work skills
Social work tools
5.Thinking holistically
The organizational context
The legal and policy context
The social context
The political context
The historical context
6.Working in partnership
With clients
With carers
With fellow professionals
Why partnership?
7.Equality, diversity and social justice
Equality and difference
Difference and diversity
Discrimination and social justice
Pitfalls to avoid
Principles of good practice
8.Being a professional
The alternatives
Knowledge
Skills
Values
Accountability
Development
Identity
Pride
Authentic professionalism
9.Spirituality
The importance of religion
Beyond religion
The implications for practice
10. Reflective practice
What is reflective practice?
What is critical practice?
What is critically reflective practice?
Why do we need critically reflective practice?
11. Growth and change
Ages and stages
Child development
Adolescent development
Adult transitions
Growing old
Facing death
Identity and its importance
12. Health and well-being
Defining health and well-being
Social aspects of health and well-being
Health and disability
The social work role in relation to health
Mental health and well-being
Conclusion
13. Human connection
Authentic connection
Listening
Getting the tone right
Nonverbal communication
Empathy
Social factors
14. Working with families
Family ideology
Family problems and solutions
Family scripts
Power dynamics
Conclusion
15. Working with groups
Why use groupwork?
Planning and purpose
Managing the dynamics
Rising to the challenges
16. Working with communities
Why work with communities?
Capacity building
Effective networking
Conclusion
17. Residential work
Home or institution?
Time and space
Conclusion
18. Court work
Why court work?
What is expected?
What skills are needed?
Conclusion
19. Report writing and record keeping
Why we write
What we write
How we write
20. Managing conflict
Clarifying conflict
The four levels
The RED approach
Conclusion
21. Loss, grief and trauma
The grief paradox: prevalence and invisibility
Beyond stages
Responding to loss
Responding to trauma
Conclusion
22. Risk and decision making
Balancing risk
Assessing risk
Managing risk
Conclusion
23. Focusing on outcomes
What is an outcome?
Why are outcomes important?
Systematic practice
Conclusion
24. Handling dilemmas and tensions
What is a dilemma?
Managing dilemmas and tensions
Conclusion

25. Handling criticism

Doing society's dirty work
Understanding the media
Complaints
Don't take it personally!
Conclusion
26. Pitfalls to avoid
Types of pitfall
Thoughts
Feelings
Actions
Values
Conclusion
27. Surviving and thriving
Motivation and morale
Stress and burnout
Self-care
Surviving and thriving

28. Managing your placement experience

Clarifying expectations
Focusing on learning
Using supervision
Conclusion

29. Managing your career

What is a career?
Upwards or onwards?
The importance of consolidation
Conclusion

30. Keeping the learning going

The importance of learning
Obstacles to learning
Making learning happen
Self-directed learning
Conclusion

Conclusion
Guide to further learning
References