Why Social Work is Important: Identity, Role and Practice

by Malcolm Payne

Overview

What is social work’s contribution to humanity and society? Best-selling author Malcolm Payne offers a toolkit for social work practitioners and students to bring key issues about their practice and social role to life, drawing on case examples and research. Starting from the principle that human beings are social beings, he showcases: • innovative analysis of how social work’s identity and diverse streams of thought inform social professions globally; • social work’s dual practice aims of developing human flourishing and social capital; • community-near co-production, engaging agencies, communities and service users with practitioners from different professions to meet shared aims for social transformation; • how populist politics and monetising economics corrodes deeply-held human and social values. Malcolm Payne looks forward to social work practice and provision that puts people and social relationships first in meeting the challenges of twenty-first century caring and environmental crises.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447330813
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x (d)

About the Author

Malcolm Payne holds professorial roles at Manchester Metropolitan Universityand Kingston UniversityLondon, having worked in a wide range of social work practice and management roles and in social work education in Europe and the UK.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The identity of social work Explaining ourselves: why is social work ‘social’ and ‘work’? Social work’s national and international identities Social work’s role: in social care and with other professions Part 2: What social work consists of: Beginnings: assessment, investigation and recording Taking action: intervention strategies, reporting and making arrangements Outcomes: completion and discharge. Part 3: What social workers do Tasks: caring, helping and counselling. Engagement: interpersonal participation, mutual action and empowerment Focus: individual, family, group and macro practice Part 4: Social work values Social justice and human rights Dignity, respect and human worth Equalities Part 5: Professionalism in social work Helping and care roles Social control and surveillance roles Management, self-management and self-care Part 6: Social work’s partnership and integration roles Children’s social care Adult social care Healthcare settings Conclusion: social work practice in context

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“An excellent book. A leading writer in the field, Malcolm Payne explores the role of Social Work today, and how current changes in society will shape the role in years to come.” Dave Mason, retired academic and practitioner

“An essential guide that offers students and social workers innovative insights and practical tools to enhance their practice, emphasizing human flourishing, social capital, and the importance of social relationships in modern challenges." Annamaria Campanini, Past President, International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and Universityà Milano Bicocca

“A new perspective on how social work is positioned in today's society and how it should be understood in the development process for tomorrow's world challenges – as a way to promote human flourishing and increase social capital in people’s lives.” Ana Radulescu, International Federation of Social Workers – Europe

Editorial Reviews

An excellent book. A leading writer in the field, Malcolm Payne explores the role of Social Work today, and how current changes in society will shape the role in years to come.” Dave Mason, retired academic and practitioner

“An essential guide that offers students and social workers innovative insights and practical tools to enhance their practice, emphasizing human flourishing, social capital, and the importance of social relationships in modern challenges." Annamaria Campanini, Past President, International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and Universityà Milano Bicocca

“A new perspective on how social work is positioned in today's society and how it should be understood in the development process for tomorrow's world challenges – as a way to promote human flourishing and increase social capital in people’s lives.” Ana Radulescu, International Federation of Social Workers – Europe

From the Publisher