Product Description

Assessment is a crucial social work task. Yet there is so much to consider that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. This book gives you structured, practical guidance on how to approach this vital professional skill. In a clear and accessible style, the authors provide both the theory behind assessment as well as helpful practice examples.

At the heart of this authoritative book is a set of theoretical maps to guide social workers' thinking and decision-making when undertaking assessment. Highlights of this third edition are:

■ insights into the kind of high-quality collaborative assessment that is most likely to lead to effective interventions
■ chapters discussing the specific challenges of assessment in children's and adult services
■ careful analysis of the latest legislation and government guidance
■ engaging features such as case studies, questions to challenge your perceptions, and thinking points to make you consider your own experience in the workplace.

This fully revised edition of a tried-and-tested text gives social work students and practitioners alike a coherent and reliable guide to best practice.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10414 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author

JUDITH MILNER is a solution focused practitioner, trainer, consultant and writer. Previously a lecturer in social work, she now acts as an independent expert, therapist and consultant in child protection, domestic violence and sex offender cases.

PATRICK O'BYRNE is a solution focused practitioner, trainer, consultant and writer. He was previously a university lecturer in social work, experienced also in family mediation and in work with domestic violence.

JUDITH MILNER and PATRICK O'BYRNE were both Senior Lecturers in Social Work at the University of Huddersfield, UK.

Customer Reviews

An easy-to-read introduction and guide to assessment
The authors have presented what they call "the thicket of concepts and theories...in social work" in a novel and interesting way - they teach you how to map read your way through assessment in social work! For example, the approaches involved in psychodynamics are illustrated through what is termed "A Map of the Ocean" (hidden depths, geddit?) and the Systems Approach via "A Map of the World". Emphasis is placed on the worker learning the skills to undertake assessment eclectically and effectively, whilst reminding us that making final judgements will always involve a degree of human bias.

Offers the fundamentals over 5 intervention approaches
I found this book very clearly laid out and informative. This book offers the fundamentals over how to assess and intervene using psychodynamic, behavioural, task-centred, solution-focused and narrative approaches. Anyone confused or needing clarity on how to practically apply these approaches to practice will gain by this book as it is written with the working practioner in mind, with short case examples exemplifying practical application. Key points are given in easy-to-reference bullet points. Also offers many useful charts and tables such as want sheets, problem scales and ego grams. As a starting text to applying any of these theories in practice, this book delivers the fundamentals.

Couldnt possibly over rate this book
I couldnt possibly over rate this book for either social work practitioners, students or general theorists.

It very clearly outlines assessment and the different corresponding social work interventions. Included are a systems approach, psycho-dynamic approach, behavioural approach, task centred approach, solutions focused approach and anti-oppressive practice.

Outside of straight therpeautic textbooks or literature it is one of the clearest, most accessible and useful accounts of psycho-dynamics I've encountered to date. The distinction between psycho-dynamics and behaviourial approaches is also usefully made (psycho-dynamics involving insight, behavioural approaches having greater relevance were insight exists or is insufficient, for instance were a problem is habitual).

The presentation and writing style is a welcome departure from a lot of social work literature in that its readable and uses language appropriate to the topics without attempting to over simplify.

It may not be the first book a student will refer to as it demands a little more reading and isnt simply a handy source of quotes for essays or assignments. However for anyone who really wants to give careful consideration to the core theories and the theory's relevance it is unsurpassed by any other book on the market.

There are also some really succinct points made throughout the book on the nature of social work interventions per se and their objective.

In particular the idea that the purpose of social work is first the provision of a formal network of welfare and second the development of an informal network of welfare. Also the important point, not often made, that a major need in the case of many people having contact with formal social services is the restoration of that person's own problem-solving potential and the mobilisation of that person's own inner resources or resourcefulness.

There are other volumeous books on the market which have been pitched as answering more existential or orientating questions about social work which dont succeed in doing so in as precise and straightforward a way.

My only possible criticism is not of the book itself but of the cover price, most social work literature seems to be obscenely over priced for what is on offer.