Best Practice with Children and Families: Critical Social Work Stories

Description

Social work practice with children, young people and families is complex, highly skilled - and fascinating. Writing about social work increasingly acknowledges the complexities and uncertainties of practice but rarely features the voice of the social worker themselves. This book takes a different approach, that of Critical Best Practice: a constructive, realistic and strengths-based approach that takes as its starting point the telling and analysing of in depth stories about 'live' practice. The reader is encouraged to join the social work practitioner or manager as they engage with the everyday dilemmas and uncertainties of 21st century practice. Ten narratives, based round the themes of relationships, risk, and negotiation & problem solving provide varied opportunities for critical reflection and learning about social work in different contexts. Insights are offered into social work with children, from young babies to adolescents, and families with differing needs in different parts of the UK: England, Scotland and Wales.

Barry Cooper is a Lecturer in Social Work at the Open University, UK. He is a qualified social worker who has practised, taught, researched and published on social work for 30 years. Jean Gordon is an Associate Lecturer at the Open University in Scotland, UK. She is also a researcher and a qualified social worker. Andy Rixon is a Lecturer (Children and Young People) at the Open University, UK. He is also a qualified social worker.