Social Work and Power [Paperback]

Power is an unavoidable issue in social work. This important text explores these complex issues, both at a conceptual and applied level, in order to give students a clear understanding of the theoretical frameworks relevant to practice and to help them begin to think through the challenges they are likely to face and how they will deal with these.PART 1: IDEAS OF POWER Why do we need to think about Power.- Ideas about Power.- Modes of Power.- Sites of Power.- PART 2: MECHANISMS OF POWER Structural Influences on Practice.- Professionals and Organisations: Autonomy or Constraint.- The Myth of Powerlessness: Service user Strategies.- PART 3: TAKING, MAKING AND USING POWER Empowering Relationships: Growth and Change.- Beyond the Individual: Groups, Communities and Systems.- Changing the World: The Challenges for Social Work.
Dr ROGER SMITH is Professor of Social Work Research at De Montfort University, UK. He qualified as a social worker in 1980, practicing in probation and youth justice settings.?He has worked as head of policy with The Children's Society, and as course director for social work at the University of Leicester.Links theory to practice effectively
Draws on practice examples from a wide range of settings