Social Work Practice

Abstract

Social work is at an important stage in its development. All professions must be responsiveto changing social and economic conditions if they are to meet the needs of those they serve. This series focuses on sound practice and the specific contribution which social workers can make to the well-being of our society. The British Association of Social Workers has always been conscious of its role in setting quidelines for practice and in seeking to raise professional standards. The conception of the Practical Social Work series arose from a survey of BASW members to discover where they, the practitioners in social work, felt there was the most need for new literature. The response was overwhelming and enthusiastic, and the result is a carefully planned, coherent series of books. The emphasis is firmly on practice set in a theoretical framework. The books will inform, stimulate and promote discussion, thus adding to the further development of skills and high professional standards. All the authors are practitioners and teachers of social work representing a wide variety of experience. JO CAMPLING A list of publishedtitles in this seriesfollows overleaf Practical Social Work series Standing Order ISBN 0-333-69347-6 You can receive future titles in this series as they are published by placing a standing order.

What's the problem? Who can help? The perspectives of children and young people on their well-being and on helping professionals

“…Attachment theory, in its various stages and forms, has become an increasingly prominent element and is arguably the dominant current paradigm with respect to looked after children and adoption (Fahlberg, 1994;Howe, 1996Howe, , 1998. According to Coulshed and Orme (1998) some of the concepts and techniques of psychosocial methods form the`bread and butter' of much social work practice (p. 141).…”

Making a claim for services: Supporting young people’s engagement with services

“…Identification of needs provides practitioners with a foundation upon which they can base their future work with clients (Coulshed & Orme, 2006). The needs of the young people in this study were complex, and often went beyond the initial issue that they presented in their first contact with services.…”

Towards a critical ecology of child development in social work: aligning the theories of Bronfenbrenner and Bourdieu

“…In this undertaking, core assessment skills of communication, observation, reflection and evaluation are required (Coulshed and Orme, 2006). For , p. 42), Bourdieu implores us to engage in 'active and methodical listening as opposed to half understanding based on a distracted and routinized attention'.…”

“…They can check whether communication is bi-directional and supportive or critical. Social network maps (Dolan et al, 2006), eco-maps (Sudbery, 2010), and genograms (Coulshed and Orme, 2006) are useful tools when it comes to applying Bronfenbrenner's systems to a family's situation. But we can add to this inquiry by importing Bourdieu's idea of capital.…”