Working with Aggression and Resistance in Social Work [Paperback]

Social workers have roles that require them to engage with clients and families who may be 'reluctant clients', ambivalent or resistant towards those seeking to help and protect. This includes safeguarding roles in relation to children and vulnerable adults, and work to engage with marginalised groups such as young offenders and those with mental health and substance misuse problems. The text addresses issues in relation to the main client groups, and specific chapters take an overview of issues such as understanding and defusing aggressive behavior and keeping yourself safe from assault.A text on working with aggressive or resistant groups and individualsChapter on Adult Protection very useful as is Chapter 3 in relation to diffusing aggression.Working with Aggression and Resistance in Social Work is a timely addition to a growing and ever improving range of books to educating future social workers that have much to offer those already in practice. It covers an area that every social worker should be familiar with and understand at the point of qualification; and it could easily form a basis for CPD modules to update staff from a variety of settings. It is good that there are case studies and other references to substance misuse as that is often a feature seen in other areas covered by the book. I have recently seen a workbook for professionals that looks at how experiences of high emotion and potential or actual violence may lead to a state of crisis in the worker and at the dynamics of coming to terms with trauma following incidents. That might be a useful area to cover in a future edition.Students often worry about dealing with aggression but forget that resistance is often far more complex and something which often needs to be overcome. I particuarly liked the clear advice and guidance this book provides and it will certainly be a book I will recommend students return to once they qualify.A very relevant and important area.NB. This is not for a social work lÃ4