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Professional Accountability in Social Care and Health
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Professional Accountability in Social Care and Health
Challenging unacceptable practice and its management

First Edition


April 2012 | 224 pages | Learning Matters
Many social workers, health care staff and teachers maintain high standards of professionalism, often in stressful and challenging circumstances. However, research also reveals instances where individual practitioners and managers, or whole organisations, fail to act lawfully, ethically and/or carefully. This book addresses just those instances by providing guidance on how to maintain accountable professionalism in tricky "what if?" situations. Dilemmas are explored using case studies and the mosaic of legal rules and regulatory body requirements for accountable professionalism are also laid out.

The book will appeal to students and newly qualified practitioners in teaching, health and social work and their managers.

 
Cause for Concern?
 
Accountable Professionalism
 
Law for Professional Practice
 
Practising Accountable Professionalism
 
Workloads and Skill Mix
 
Advocacy
 
Equality, Human Rights and the Duty of Care
 
Confidentiality and Record Keeping
 
Health and Safety Duties of Health and Social Care Employers
 
What To Do If...

The book will appeal to those with supervisory and management responsibility and academics planning modules concerning law, ethics and professional practice. It presents scenarios, case studies and information that will help students and practitioners to gain the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to be able to weigh up difficult dilemmas relating to health and social care practice, before deciding on how to act'
Chris O'Grady
Senior Lecturer Nursing, School of Health, Medical Science and Society, Glyndwyr University Wrexham



This book is a useful resource and provides an excellent bibliography of cases, procedural guidance and relevant research. Much of this material is very practical and could be easily adapted to develop a training intervention to raise awareness in the local context. It will be of use to those taking on challenging roles as ethical advisors or complaints assessors with the caveat of course that local knowledge is central to good management.

Liz Beddoe, Associate Professor of Social Work, School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work, The University of Auckland
Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Review

A really useful book that is a great companion to the Transforming Nursing Practice Law and Professional Issues in Nursing. This really digs down to the nub of the issues and allows experienced care workers to discuss and debate using their knowledge of case studies to share good practice and to identify where other teams experience issues.

Mrs Janet Macfarlane
health, University of Bolton
July 1, 2016

In the past professional accountability sent shivers down the spines of many working in the increasingly complex world of health and social care. It still does. and primarily due to practitioners not considering the 'what if and what about'. This accessible, readable and lively text opens the issues up, sheds light on complexity and takes the reader into the places they know they need to go but would at time prefer not to. A great addition to the literature.

Mr Timothy Wallis
Health, University Campus Oldham
June 8, 2015

This book summarises effectively evidence from recent serious case reviews in both children and adult services and the importance of learning from these. It also includes good sections on managing workload and the boundaries of confidentiality. As such, it highlights both work pressures and ethical dilemmas and is therefore insightful for any social work student.

Mr Robert Hagan
Department of Sociology & Applied Social Studies, University of Ulster
February 4, 2015

This is a very good book that will help HNC Health and Social care students to understand the professional accountability in health and social care.

This book can be used throughout the course in relation to units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

The way in which the book has been written enables students gather knowledge and also through the use of carefully selected activities it encourages students to reflect on practice and ask questions?

Mr Denise Nannetti
Education (Stevenage), North Herts College
December 15, 2014

In my view a helpful text which, stimulates an exploration of accountability and professionalism in social work and social care. Good coverage of law and ethics with helpful case examples to support application of, and reflection on learning. These can also be adapted to make good in class activities.

Miss Jacky Foster
Social Work , Cornwall College
September 19, 2014

Nicely presented book which helps students to get into this very important topic.

Mrs Sharon Lambley
School for Social Work and Social Care, Sussex University
May 12, 2014

A book that informs professionals within health care and social work about accountability in the workplace and what practitioners should be aware of. This book is very informative and has case studies throughout which informs the reader of how to deal with difficult situations which challenge accountability.

Miss Frances Jackson
Public Services, Peterborough Regional College
May 1, 2014

This book offers a good balance between theory, case studies and case law examples, that provide students with a good overview of the issues arising. Case studies provide excellent links to practice and have been a useful took in stimulating discussions. This book is an essential read for people working in social care.

Miss Jessica Wagner
Faculty of Health and Sciences, Staffordshire University
March 13, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 11 - Concluding Observations