Modern Social Work Practice – Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings
1
Book reviews 47 © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 4 Book review Book review Book review Book Review Modern Social Work Practice – Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings Mark Doel and Steven M. Shardlow (Eds) Ashgate, 2005, 302 pp ISBN 07546 4121-x Price: hb: £55 pb: £17 Modern Social Work Practice does what it says on the book cover. It is a practical and user-friendly manual, which is aimed at students in social care and those who have responsibility for teaching and assessing these students in practice. Although focused on social care, this book can be used for students in other disciplines. The authors make it clear that this text is geared towards the changing face of social care and that means interprofessional learning and interprofessional teams. The themes discussed are generic themes to all social care professions, and the exercises and discussions could be adapted and used in allied health and social care professions. Those familiar with previous publications by the authors will be revisiting a tried and tested formula (i.e. one exercise used to introduce the theme of the chapter followed by comprehensive teaching notes). These activities are clearly explained, easy to follow and can be adapted to fit the occasion required. Most importantly, they are practical and, for the lone Practice Teacher, this is indeed valuable. Like most Practice Teachers, I have personally met with students who have struggled to understand and/or have been afraid to talk about their own value base and ethical principles. Modern Social Work Practice provides specific help with a choice of activities, such as the ‘Knowing Yourself Exercise’. Along with a colleague I have had experience of using the ‘Myth Of Sisyphus’ exercise with our adult care social work learners. It worked very well as a focus for dis- cussion about ‘whistle blowing’. There are also exercises about risk assessment, legislation, and prioritizing resources, amongst others, all of which provide a very useful repertoire for the Practice Teacher’s toolbox. As stated above, some of the content of this book will seem familiar, but as the authors state in the introduction, this is because this text builds on their previous publications and follows a tried and tested formula. However, this publication does depart from the familiar because, in addition, it very use- fully addresses the changing face of social care and social work education. Each chapter is clearly linked to the relevant occupational standards, which again is a practical aid to Practice Teachers. Topics intro- duced as ‘new’, have, as the authors rightly point out, been around for a long time. However, today in the UK, social work has a code of occupational standards and assessment is underpinned by National Occupational Standards. There are comprehensive chapters on Inter- Professional Learning, Evidence Based Practice, and Generalist and Specialist Practice. Risk Assessment, Whistle-blowing, and a thorough explanation of Law in Practice are also covered. Best of all it is written in plain English and the reader can quickly home in on the topic on which they need advice or guidance. Take law, for example, the authors guide the reader through three distinctions: The relationship of law and social work; Domains of law; and Types of legal instrument. This may sound simple, but, again, for lone Practice Teachers and for students, it is this format that makes this book the ‘don’t panic’ guide to practice teaching. The authors also provide the reader with a sound synopsis of relevant social work literature, which is referenced, clearly explained in context and gives signposts for further reading. If you are a previous reader, this will add to the air of familiarity about the text, and criticism could be levied in that the authors are not actually saying anything new. However, this would be an unfair criticism, as the aim of this book is to bring us up to date with current changes in social work practice. In summary, this comprehensive and well-referenced digest is an absolute boon for the busy practitioner and student. Jane Houston Team Manager Social Work Practice Learning Team Nottingham City Council E-mail: [email protected]
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Transcript of Modern Social Work Practice – Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings
Book reviews 47
© 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
4Book reviewBook reviewBook review
Book Review
Modern Social Work Practice – Teaching and Learning in Practice Settings
Mark Doel and Steven M. Shardlow (Eds)
Ashgate, 2005, 302 pp
ISBN 07546 4121-x
Price: hb: £55 pb: £17
Modern Social Work Practice does what it says on
the book cover. It is a practical and user-friendly
manual, which is aimed at students in social care
and those who have responsibility for teaching and
assessing these students in practice. Although focused
on social care, this book can be used for students in
other disciplines. The authors make it clear that this
text is geared towards the changing face of social
care and that means interprofessional learning and
interprofessional teams. The themes discussed are
generic themes to all social care professions, and the
exercises and discussions could be adapted and used
in allied health and social care professions.
Those familiar with previous publications by the
authors will be revisiting a tried and tested formula
(i.e. one exercise used to introduce the theme of the
chapter followed by comprehensive teaching notes).
These activities are clearly explained, easy to follow
and can be adapted to fit the occasion required.
Most importantly, they are practical and, for the
lone Practice Teacher, this is indeed valuable. Like
most Practice Teachers, I have personally met with
students who have struggled to understand and/or
have been afraid to talk about their own value base
and ethical principles.
Modern Social Work Practice
provides specific help with a choice of activities,
such as the ‘Knowing Yourself Exercise’. Along with
a colleague I have had experience of using the ‘Myth
Of Sisyphus’ exercise with our adult care social work
learners. It worked very well as a focus for dis-
cussion about ‘whistle blowing’. There are also
exercises about risk assessment, legislation, and
prioritizing resources, amongst others, all of which
provide a very useful repertoire for the Practice
Teacher’s toolbox.
As stated above, some of the content of this book
will seem familiar, but as the authors state in the
introduction, this is because this text builds on their
previous publications and follows a tried and tested
formula. However, this publication does depart
from the familiar because, in addition, it very use-
fully addresses the changing face of social care and
social work education. Each chapter is clearly linked
to the relevant occupational standards, which again
is a practical aid to Practice Teachers. Topics intro-
duced as ‘new’, have, as the authors rightly point out,
been around for a long time. However, today in the
UK, social work has a code of occupational standards
and assessment is underpinned by National
Occupational Standards.
There are comprehensive chapters on Inter-
Professional Learning, Evidence Based Practice, and
Generalist and Specialist Practice. Risk Assessment,
Whistle-blowing, and a thorough explanation of Law
in Practice are also covered. Best of all it is written in
plain English and the reader can quickly home in on
the topic on which they need advice or guidance.
Take law, for example, the authors guide the reader
through three distinctions
: The relationship of law
and social work
;
Domains of law
; and
Types of legal
instrument.
This may sound simple, but, again, for
lone Practice Teachers and for students, it is this
format that makes this book the ‘don’t panic’ guide
to practice teaching.
The authors also provide the reader with a sound
synopsis of relevant social work literature, which is
referenced, clearly explained in context and gives
signposts for further reading. If you are a previous
reader, this will add to the air of familiarity about the
text, and criticism could be levied in that the authors
are not actually saying anything new. However, this
would be an unfair criticism, as the aim of this book
is to bring us up to date with current changes in social
work practice. In summary, this comprehensive and
well-referenced digest is an absolute boon for the
busy practitioner and student.
Jane Houston
Team Manager
Social Work Practice Learning Team
Nottingham City Council
E-mail: [email protected]
