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Practising social work: meeting the professional challenge
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 240p.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
This book is designed to provide a practical, but theoretically informed, foundation for meeting the challenges of social work practice. Based on his experience in training, education and consultancy, the author offers a contemporary introduction focused on the essential aspects of modern-day social work. His book addresses a wide range of issues and strategies for practice. It is divided into four main parts. The first, the role of the social worker as problem solver, addresses issues such as; needs and unmet needs, the social context of personal problems, promoting and preventing change and working in partnership. The second section of the book turns to the social worker s thinker. This covers such topics as; reflective practice, critical analysis skills, social work as education, emotional intelligence and narratives and meaning making. In the third section the author turns to the social worker as manager, covering; managing self, processes, tasks and outcomes, risk and resources, and managing expectations. The final part of the book looks at the social worker. Subjects addresses here include: traditional professionalism, the legacy of anti-professionalism, developing empowering professionalism, and professionalism in practice. The book is aimed at social workers at al levels of training. Case studies, suggestions for further research and learning aids are included throughout.
Anti-discriminatory practice: equality, diversity and social justice
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 240p.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 5th ed.
This is the fifth edition of what is considered a key text for those wanting an introduction to the challenges of promoting social justice and equality in a society characterised by ever-increasing diversity. The authors looks at ways in which social workers can effectively challenge inequality within society and explores the many forms of discrimination that can lead to disadvantage, disempowerment and oppression. Chapters include: equality, diversity and social justice; the theory base, gender and sexism, ethnicity and racism; ageism and alienation; disability and social handicap; sexuality and heterosexism; and faith and religious discrimination. New to this edition are the contextual introduction and chapters on sexuality and religious discrimination; an explicit theory base, through extended discussion of the widely used PCS (personal, cultural, structural) model; a range of questions for reflection, and guidance on further reading, incorporating books, articles and websites. The book is aimed at social work students, practitioners, managers and educators.
Upskilling the residential care workforce
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Care Council for Wales
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 18p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
The aim of this report is to provide an overview of the learning and development needs of the residential child care workforce and to offer recommendations on making improvements with regards to training. The project comprised 3 elements. The first was a review of key elements of the statistical information available in relation to residential child care in Wales. The second was an online questionnaire completed by 178 registered residential child care workers and managers which was designed to identify their learning and development needs. The third element was 3 consultation workshops with 26 key stakeholders in residential child care in which the survey data was used as a starting point for a broader discussion about learning and development in residential child care. This report synthesises the insights to be gained from the 3 elements and uses these as a basis for proposing ways forward. The emergent themes from this research were: advanced training in key areas; the significance of loss, grief and trauma in children’s and young people’s lives; management development; and the logistics of extensive training provision. Six conclusions and associated recommendations are provided.
Promoting equality: working with diversity and difference
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 288p.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
A revised 3rd edition, this book focuses on equality and diversity. It looks at the historical background to efforts to tackle inequalities and promote social justice and explores the concepts of equality and diversity. The author highlights the need to appreciate the complexities involved and to seek unity in diversity, asserting the importance of existential unity and human diversity. The book covers theoretical foundations, power, discrimination and oppression, health and the medicalisation of inequality, learning from the past, the organisational context, and strategies for promoting equality. It uses brief practice examples to illustrate theoretical issues.
Effective communication: a guide for the people professions
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 288p.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
While poor communication can prove very damaging in its consequences, at its most effective it has the power to ensure the promotion of equality and well-being. The new edition of this textbook offers a clear and informative introduction to the subtleties and practical complexities of communication. The author draws on a wide-ranging theory base to demonstrate how key ideas from several different disciplines come together to provide a sound foundation for informed and sensitive practice. This edition includes: a consistent focus on the importance of communication within interprofessional and multidisciplinary contexts; new chapters on communication within specific settings, such as working with children and with groups; new discussion of potential difficulties in communication, for example, as a result of disability issues or the challenges of intercultural communication; and a broad range of learning resources, such as activities, 'points to ponder' and 'voice of experience' comments, reflecting practitioners' real-world experience. The text is aimed at a wide audience including students and practitioners of social work, nursing, health and social care, counselling and pastoral care, teaching and educational support, probation work, youth and community work, and advice studies, as well as managers, leaders, supervisors and human resource professionals.
Theorizing social work practice
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 274p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
Social work theory and practice are inextricably linked. This book looks at how theory informs practice and practice can test and inform theory. It is divided into three main parts. The first part lays the foundations by exploring the nature and role of theory. The second part looks at the nature of practice by discussing a range of issues related to the knowledge base practitioners need in order to be able to make sense of their work. The final part puts forward some suggestions for how the theoretical understanding of the profession can be developed to provide an even better foundation of understanding to underpin practice. The author uses detailed explanations, practitioner quotes, and case examples to guide the reader through the process of theorising practice, Topics such as social work approaches and perspectives, including post-structuralism and postmodernism, and the role of existentialism in understanding the challenges of contemporary practice are critically discussed. The book aims to help the reader expand their capacity for reflective practice, critical analysis and the personal evaluation of theoretical positions.
People skills
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 315p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
Part 1 of this book stresses the importance of personal effectiveness skills, Part 2 concentrates on the skills involved in personal interactions, and Part 3 focuses on the skills of intervention - agreeing what needs to be done and taking the necessary steps.
Understanding social work: preparing for practice
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Publisher:
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 229p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Basingstoke
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
This book is an introduction to social work and will be of interest to those considering a career in social work and students in training. It covers: what social work is; how it is carried out; what practitioners need in order to be effective, providing an overview of the competencies identified in the National Occupational Standards for Social Work; values and ethics; what is (and what is not) good practice; and the obstacles that stand in the way of good practice. This third edition reflects recent developments in social work within the context of contemporary society, law and policy. It features a wide variety of practice examples and quotes, giving readers an insight into the job.
First do no harm
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Social and Public Policy Review, 3(1), 2009, Online only
- Publisher:
- University of Plymouth
- Place of publication:
- Plymouth
Social work has for some considerable time professed a commitment to empowerment as a fundamental value. However, professing a value and making it a reality as a genuine underpinning of practice can be two different things. This paper presents an account of a case in which the actions or inactions of social work staff left individuals feeling distressed, disempowered and traumatised. The dissatisfaction in the case arose due to a lack of liaison and lack of a thorough assessment and the failure of authorities to respond adequately to complaints made. By describing and analysing the actions taken, the paper shows how a lack of genuine commitment to empowerment can have extremely detrimental effects. In doing so, it exposes the dangers of forms of practice that are not person-centred or based on partnership. Lessons are highlighted in the areas of case records, assessment, managing conflict, personal/professional boundaries, recognising grief, and providing information.
Existentialist ethics: from Nietzsche to Sartre and beyond
- Author:
- THOMPSON Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Ethics and Social Welfare, 2(1), April 2008, pp.10-23.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Abingdon
This article outlines some of the main points of ethical theory in the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, one of the founders of existentialist thought, and Jean-Paul Sartre, the best known of the existentialist thinkers, as well as other contributors to existentialist thought. Possible developments in existentialist ethical theory since the time of Sartre are also sketched out, and these are linked to contemporary social work concerns.