Social Work: Voices from the Inside offers unique insight into social work from the perspectives of those ‘on the inside’, that is, service users, carers and practitioners.
Drawing on a narrative tradition, fifty-nine people from across the UK tell their stories about how and why social work came into their lives, and what happened next. Key topics are discussed, including:
children and family social work
criminal justice social work
mental health social work
residential child care
social work with disabled people
social work with older people
lessons for the future.
Focusing on issues for good practice in social work and social work education, this book is essential reading for students and academics of social work and social policy. It will also appeal to social work professionals and those in allied health, education and care areas.
Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Voices from Social Work Part 3: Discussion
Biography
Viviene Cree is Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Cree's research expertise is in the core discipline of social work, with particular experience in the development of the social work profession, historically and in the present day. She has carried out a range of research projects on social work history, social work education, and children's services.
Ann Davis is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at the University of Birmingham and Chair of the Institute of Applied Social Studies' mental health research programme. Professor Davis' research interests include user experiences of social work and mental health services, poverty and social exclusion, and community care.
'A timely and reassuring reminder of the strengths of social work...It highlights the beliefs and values that we share with service users and carers. This is is a motivating read for uncertain students and exhausted practitioners in particular, but will also give every reader some timeless messages about how social work can and should be done in order to benefit all those involved.' – Journal of Social Work
'This is a very useful and positive book focusing on key themes for service users, their families and carers, and social work practitioners alike…[It] will also be useful for students in learning more about service users' experiences, positive and negative, of our input and in appreciating that it is sometimes necessary to challenge boundaries and service restrictions in order to remain person-centred in our practice.' – Community Care
