Policy Press

Social work and multi-agency working

Making a difference

Edited by Kate Morris

Published

May 7, 2008

Page count

192 pages

Browse the series

Social Work in Practice

ISBN

978-1861349453

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 7, 2008

Page count

192 pages

Browse the series

Social Work in Practice

ISBN

978-1861349460

Dimensions

240 x 172 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

May 7, 2008

Page count

192 pages

Browse the series

Social Work in Practice

ISBN

978-1447319658

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Social work and multi-agency working

Multi-agency working is a dominant characteristic of emerging policy and practice across the range of social care settings. While this challenging activity places considerable demands at both practice and policy levels, when done well, service users agree it offers enhanced service provision. When delivered ineffectively, it can be frustrating and disempowering.

This stimulating introductory text explores the challenges and opportunities for social-work education and practice within the context of multi-agency working. It brings together leading experts from across a range of disciplines, including criminology, mental health, child protection, drugs and alcohol, and education, to give the reader insights into different social care settings. It includes perspectives of those using services as well as describing the relevant legal and policy context and offering an overview of key research findings and contains trigger questions and a recommended resources section within each chapter.

With an emphasis on identifying learning that can inform future practice, this text will be an essential text for both qualifying and post qualifying social workers who will go on to practice in diverse and assorted settings.

"........this book is a useful starter text about the challenges of multi-agency working, which, it is to be hoped, will lead to further research into the effectiveness of multi-agency working." Janet Lancefield in British Journal of Social Work

"This book fulfils the need for more literature on this increasingly important subject - its distinctive contribution is providing material from practice research in an accessible format. A valuable addition to the required reading for qualifying and post-qualifying programmes." Anne Quinney, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University, and Joint Editor of 'Practice; Social Work in Action'

Kate Morris is based at the University of Birmingham and is currently the Head of Social Work within the Institute of Applied Social Studies.

Setting the scene ~ Kate Morris; Delivering youth justice through partnership working ~ Nathan Hughes and David Prior; Bringing together child health and social care provision: challenges and opportunities for multi-agency working ~ Jane Coad; Working with extended schools to prevent social exclusion ~ Anne Edwards, Apostol Apostolov, Irene Dooher and Anna Popova; Accessing and using multi-agency services: the experience of families ~ Leonie Jordan; Making sense of social work practice in multi-agency mental health services ~ Ann Davis, Alex Davis and Tony Glynn; Working together: responding to people with alcohol and drug problems ~ Sarah Galvani; Multi-agency working and partnership in services for adults with learning disabilities ~ Nicki Ward; Social work practice with older people: working in partnership ~ Rosemary Littlechild; Conclusion ~ Kate Morris.