Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfare: More than just common sense [Paperback]

Human service workers need more than just common sense.Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfareoffers a comprehensive introduction to practice skills required across the human service sector.The authors use critical analysis to systematically outline the key stages of interaction with clients: engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Drawing on a strengths approach, they examine the skills needed for working with different types of clients: individuals, families, and community groups. They also explore the dilemmas faced in daily practice, including the challenges of working with involuntary clients, clients from different cultural backgrounds, and clients in crisis situations.Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfareprovides a model of integrated practice which incorporates the key components of ideology, theory, phase, skill, and context. Detailed case studies demonstrate how welfare services can be delivered in different contexts. This second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated and includes new material on online services and strengths-based practice.Written by experienced teachers and practitioners from Australia and New Zealand,Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfareis a practical and user friendly text for students and reference for practitioners.

"The main strength of the book is the consistency of its themes throughout the text . . . I would like to commend the editors of this book for the contribution it should make to practice teaching with social work and welfare." —Karen Heycox, Australian Social Work

Jane Maidmenthas been a social work practitioner in mental health and has taught practice skills in Australia and New Zealand. She is a senior lecturer in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University.Ronnie Eganhas extensive experience as a social work practitioner and supervisor in the community sector. She lectures in l32