Policy Press

The Enlightened Social Worker

An Introduction to Rights-Focused Practice

By Donald Forrester

Published

Mar 27, 2024

Page count

202 pages

ISBN

978-1447367666

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 27, 2024

Page count

202 pages

ISBN

978-1447367659

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 27, 2024

Page count

202 pages

ISBN

978-1447367673

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 27, 2024

Page count

202 pages

ISBN

978-1447367673

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
The Enlightened Social Worker

While social work theory tends to emphasise helping individuals and challenging social injustice, the reality of practice is characterised by challenge and conflict. This text offers a new concept of social work that explains the nature of these conflicts and moves beyond them, with an inspiring and practical vision of what social work is and should be.

Placing rights at the heart of practice, this introduction to social work will be useful to practitioners and students with a substantive contribution to the theoretical literature that emphasises the role of social work when rights may be in conflict, enabling students and workers to become more confident in dealing with the uncomfortable realities of practice.

"Acknowledging contemporary practice challenges while traversing the social and the individual, Forrester positions social work as central to the promotion of human rights. A must-read for students and practitioners." Henry Smith, Lecturer in Social Work, University of Sussex

“In this comprehensive and thought-provoking book, Forrester reconsiders a number of taken-for-granted ideas about social work and then shines a new light on them. The book is of interest not just to students but also to more experienced social workers and their supervisors.” David Shemmings OBE, Emeritus Professor, University of Kent and Royal Holloway, University of London

“Covering the 18th century to the current day, Forrester leads the reader on an essential intellectual journey towards defining the true purpose and value of the social work profession.” Isabelle Trowler CBE, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families

Donald Forrester is Professor of Child and Family Social Work and Director of CASCADE Centre for Children's Social Care Research and Development at Cardiff University.

Introduction

Part 1: An Introduction to Rights Based Social Work

1. The Enlightenment, Social Work and Progress

2. Freedom, rights, equality, solidarity and social work

3. Needs, Rights and Social Work

Part 2: Core Intellectual Traditions for a Rights Based Social Work

4. Humanist Social Work

5. The Social Model

Part 3: How to Practice Rights Based Social Work

6. Assessment as Theory Development

7. Good assessment: Formulation and Resolution

8. Assessing Change

9. Good Practice in Direct Work: Purposeful Dialogue

10. Purposeful Dialogue and Good Authority

11. Purposeful Dialogue and Helping People

12. Creating a Collaborative Plan

13. Final Thoughts and Future Directions