Social Work Skills and Knowledge: A Practice Handbook

Since its first publication in 2000, this best-selling text has been an invaluable resource for thousands of social workers preparing for life in practice. Written by an influential academic-practitioner, it is widely regarded as the leading book in its field. The fourth edition has been thoroughly updated to include sections on theoretical, factual and practice knowledge. Key features include: • Explanation of how theory and practice can be integrated in a Knowledge and Skills Framework or ‘map’ of professional practice • Updated case examples exploring issues that have become important since the third edition • 80 essential social work skills and interventions including communication, empowerment, counselling skills and many more. Social Work Skills is essential reading for all social work students and a valuable reference tool for practising social workers, social services managers and human service professionals. Dr Pamela Trevithick is Visiting Professor in Social Work at Buckinghamshire New University, UK and the Chair of GAPS, a membership organisation promoting relationship-based approaches, and psychodynamic and systemic thinking in social work. She lectures widely in the UK and abroad on a range of issues relating to effective social work practice.

Table of Contents:
Part One: Theories and Theorists Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Theoretical knowledge Chapter 3 Factual knowledge Chapter 4 Practice knowledge Chapter 5 Understanding human beings Part two: Skills and Interventions Chapter 6 Communication, observation, listening and assessment skills Chapter 7 Interviewing skills Chapter 8 Providing help, direction and guidance Chapter 9 Empowerment, negotiation and partnership skills Chapter 10 Professional competence and accountability APPENDICES Appendix 1: Behaviourist approaches Appendix 2: Cognitive approaches Appendix 3: Ecological approach in social work Appendix 4: Crisis intervention Appendix 5: Feminist perspectives in social work Appendix 6: Motivational interviewing Appendix 7: Person-centred approaches Appendix 8: Psychosocial approaches Appendix 9: Radical perspectives Appendix 10: Strengths perspectives Appendix 11: Task-centred approaches Appendix 12: Stages of change References Index

About the Author :
Dr Pamela Trevithick is Visiting Professor in Social Work at Buckinghamshire New University, UK and the Chair of GAPS, a membership organisation promoting relationship-based approaches, and psychodynamic and systemic thinking in social work. She lectures widely in the UK and abroad on a range of issues relating to effective social work practice.