Writing Analytical Assessments in Social Work: (Critical Skills for Social Work)

You write something so that it can be read, not in order that it can be written – write reports that achieve and illuminate! The third edition of the best-selling Writing Analytical Assessments in Social Work guides you through the principles of good writing and methodically shows you: how to analyse how to structure the process of writing an assessment (researching, chronologising, informed data-gathering, putting it all together), how to get this done under time constraints. how to break down the practical and psychological barriers to good practice and how to turn good analysis into useful recommendations. This new edition features brand new content, on subjects such as decision-making and cognitive fallacies in assessment, how to conduct analysis on domestic violence and systematic thinking and reflexivity in assessment. There are also updates on MCA assessments, new legislation and documents. Written in an accessible way and packed with examples and case studies, this book is both practically-minded and constantly returning to first principles: reminding you what it is you are trying to achieve and teaching you how to write reports that can be read by families and judges alike. You will learn how to write high quality, useful and timely assessments without becoming mechanistic or managerial. This book kills the myth of a trade-off between efficiency and quality of work. Writing Analytical Assessments in Social Work is an essential companion whether you are a newly-qualified social worker, a student about to undertake your first placement or a seasoned professional looking to improve your skills. It is also suitable for all branches of social work.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1) Chronologies: The start and heart of a good assessment 2) Genograms and ecomaps:Knowing the networks 3) How to get it done: Planning your report in the real world 4) Writing 5) Analysis 6) What Next? 7) Summary Appendix 1: Writing for child care proceedings Appendix 2: Deprivation of Liberty assessments

About the Author :
Chris Dyke graduated in social work from Goldsmith’s in 2006, before working in statutory teams in London, and as an independent social worker from 2015. He started teaching at Goldsmith’s in 2013 and has taught social work, education, economics, and social policy. He completed his PhD at UCL in 2022, on parole decisions about domestic violence perpetrators. Chris has work published in Community Care, Professional Social Work magazine, the British Journal of Social Work and Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health.

Review :
....For those who are familiar with the first edition of the text, it is important to note that the author has written two completely new chapters for this second edition, which cover the topics of ‘why assessment is important’ and ‘what happens after assessment’ – in my opinion, these are welcome additions which significantly improve what was already an excellent book, and one which I thoroughly recommend to all social workers and those working in social care – be they still in training, newly qualified or with many years of experience – as well as practice teachers, field educators and trainers. Sue Taplin