Social work and multi-agency working: Making a difference

Description

Multi-agency working is a dominant characteristic of emerging policy and practice across the range of social care settings. While this challenging activity places considerable demands at both practice and policy levels, when done well, service users agree it offers enhanced service provision. When delivered ineffectively, it can be frustrating and disempowering. This stimulating introductory text explores the challenges and opportunities for social-work education and practice within the context of multi-agency working. It brings together leading experts from across a range of disciplines, including criminology, mental health, child protection, drugs and alcohol, and education, to give the reader insights into different social care settings. It includes perspectives of those using services as well as describing the relevant legal and policy context and offering an overview of key research findings and contains trigger questions and a recommended resources section within each chapter. With an emphasis on identifying learning that can inform future practice, this text will be an essential text for both qualifying and post qualifying social workers who will go on to practice in diverse and assorted settings.

Kate Morris is based at the University of Birmingham and is currently the Head of Social Work within the Institute of Applied Social Studies.

"This book fulfils the need for more literature on this increasingly important subject - it's distinctive contribution is providing material from practice research in an accessible format. A valuable addition to the required reading for qualifying and post-qualifying programmes." Anne Quinney, Senior Lecturer Bournemouth University and Joint Editor of 'Practice; Social Work in Action'