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Social Work
Introducing Professional Practice



February 2006 | 240 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
'Comprehensive and user-friendly. The book is helpfully constructed around a number of key themes, starting with a good attempt to define social work from historical and international perspectives and moving on to address key issues concerning the practice, knowledge, values and skills required from contemporary social work in the UK. I believe social work students, newly qualified and experienced social workers will find ths a valuable resource, especially when one is confronted by challenges in practice' - Professional Social Work

'Social Work is a good overview that should refresh learner and tutor alike. Pratice assessors may find this book a useful update for their work with students and also a neat refresher. It is a well-written and up-to-date text, with a good sense of where future challenges lie for the social work profession in the UK. Higham is confident enough to voice the profession's uncertainties as well as mapping the changing organisational landscape that social workers might populate. [This book] is likely to appear on many social work reading lists. [It has] the potential to provide good learning opportunities for post-qualifying as well as pre-qualifying training' - Health and Social Care in the Community

`The unique aspect of this book which distinguishes it from other competitors is that it is constructed explicitly around the key roles and benchmark statements... this book will offer something new and interesting to the growing field of social work education literature and is likely to be relevant to both students and practitioners in the UK and elsewhere' - Dr Caroline Skehill, Queens University Belfast

What is the role of social work? What does it mean to be a social worker? What are the changes affecting social work training?

Social Work: Introducing Professional Practice addresses these questions and provides an understanding of the knowledge, values, and skills requirements of professional social work. The author has played a key role in constructing the subject benchmarks for the social work degree and offers a reflective and thoughtful commentary upon training, education and practice. Written in a lively and readable style, the book captures the essence of the changes sweeping through social work and engages the reader in these debates.

Key features of this book include:

- Comprehensive content structured around the guidelines for training and practice

- Bridges the gap between theory and real-life practice

- Student-friendly features such as case-studies, discussion questions, further reading and a glossary

This exciting publication will be a core textbook for trainee social workers as they progress through the qualifying social work degree, or as they begin their practice as newly qualified workers seeking to consolidate their learning.

 
What Is Professional Social Work?
 
Focus on Practice
 
Different Contexts for Practice
 
Individual and Collective Well-Being
 
Values for Practice
 
Knowledge for Practice
 
Skills for Practice and Continuing Professional Development

'Comprehensive and user-friendly. The book is helpfully constructed around a number of key themes, starting with a good attempt to define social work from historical and international perspectives and moving on to address key issues concerning the practice, knowledge, values and skills required from contemporary social work in the UK. I believe social work students, newly qualified and experienced social workers will find ths a valuable resource, especially when one is confronted by challenges in practice' - Professional Social Work

'Social Work is a good overview that should refresh learner and tutor alike. Pratice assessors may find this book a useful update for their work with students and also a neat refresher. It is a well-written and up-to-date text, with a good sense of where future challenges lie for the social work profession in the UK. Higham is confident enough to voice the profession's uncertainties as well as mapping the changing organisational landscape that social workers might populate. [This book] is likely to appear on many social work reading lists. [It has] the potential to provide good learning opportunities for post-qualifying as well as pre-qualifying training' - Health and Social Care in the Community


A well constructed book that fully explores the key role of a Social Worker. Some excellent case studies throughout which allow both the Social Work student and Practitioner to reflect on their own understanding and practice.

Mrs Kerry Merchant
School of Care, Coleg y Cymoedd
May 9, 2016

A clear year one textbook giving guidance and well presented information on understanding Professional Practice

Mr David Childs
Social Work , Birmingham City University
October 28, 2015

This is a text that should accompany any social work programme. Whilst, it is not the type of book that one would skim easily, it contains information that will help develop not only the understanding of social work practice, but the practice of the social work practitioner.

Miss Sarah Bennett
Institute of Applied Social Studies, Birmingham University
May 23, 2012

This is an ideal text for social work students, and the useful exercises throughout enhance stuents' understanding of professional practice.

Ms Martine Wilkinson
Social Work, Winchester University
April 2, 2012

A really good book. Interesting and relevant

Mrs Fiona Wilkes
BA (HONS) Degree in Social Work, North East Worcestershire College
August 16, 2011

Good Core text for students on placement. Good use of reflective enquiry and case study material to support application of theory/knowledge within practice context.

Mrs Marie Ramsden
Department of Social Work, Hull University
May 28, 2010

For instructors

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Paperback
ISBN: 9781412908573
£41.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781412908566
£133.00

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