Social Policy For Effective Practice

First Published in 2011. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Social Policy for Effective Practice: A Strengths Approach sharpens students' awareness of social welfare policy and offers a considerable array of resources and knowledge foundations to both understand and thrive within a continually evolving policy landscape. Throughout the text, the authors tell the stories of social workers who impact policy, incorporate frameworks for policy analysis, center social work values and strengths principles, and integrate the series' interactive and downloadable cases to demonstrate policy's relevance and application to practice settings and situations in concrete ways. Students may use the text as an introduction to social policy, a tool for deeper examination of policy topics, and as a lifelong companion for their policy-relevant practice. Now in its sixth edition, the textbook is fully updated to reflect substantial changes in policy arenas such as health care, family economic support, immigration and asylum, criminal justice, housing, reproductive rights, substance use disorder, mental health treatment, and childcare, as well as the implications of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. With additional support and extensions available at www.routledgesw.com, Social Policy for Effective Practice makes policy relevant, accessible, and meaningful for social work students and is a perfect complement to undergraduate and graduate courses on social policy and practice.

For use as a text in foundations generalist social policy courses, either at the baccalaureate or master’s level, this book examines the process of defining need, analyzing social policy, and developing new policy. A clear philosophical base and a common theoretical framework underlie the discussion of each component of the policy process. Four themes are interwoven throughout the book: the importance of thinking critically about social policy, the benefits of using the strengths perspective in policy analysis and development, the critical role social policy plays in all areas of practice, and the absolute responsibility of every social worker to engage in policy practice. Routledgesw.com now contains 6 cases; the Sanchez Case has been revised to include much more policy content. Instructor materials include extra readings, PowerPoints, test questions, annotated links, syllabi, and EPAS guidelines.? The book is also customizable on Routledge Custom Gateway.

For use as a text in foundations generalist social policy courses, either at the baccalaureate or master’s level, this book examines the process of defining need, analyzing social policy, and developing new policy. A clear philosophical base and a common theoretical framework underlie the discussion of each component of the policy process. Each chapter builds on the knowledge foundation provided in previous chapters to equip students with skills necessary for effective policy practice. Four themes are interwoven throughout the book: the importance of thinking critically about social policy, the benefits of using the strengths perspective in policy analysis and development, the critical role social policy plays in all areas of practice, and the absolute responsibility of every social worker to engage in policy practice. Routledgesw.com now contains 6 cases; the Sanchez Case has been revised to include much more policy content. Instructor materials include extra readings, PowerPoints, test questions, annotated links, syllabi, and EPAS guidelines. As with the third edition, instructors can choose chapters relevant to their course and custom publish them at www.routledge.customgateway.com

The fifth edition of Social Policy for Effective Practice offers a rich variety of resources and knowledge foundations to help social work students understand and contend with the continually evolving social policy landscape that surrounds them. The authors have continued their traditional values-based approach and kept the focus on clients' strengths to help students position themselves for effective engagement on new fronts where policy threats and outcomes affect clients' lives in myriad ways. The new edition comprehensively covers the process of defining need, analyzing social policy, and developing policy, and each chapter builds on the practical knowledge and skills forged from previous ones. New to this edition: Thorough examination of new policies, including challenges to the Affordable Care Act, voting rights, immigration, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as situations involving substance use, mental health, and economic inequality. Expanded coverage of shifting demographics, including population diversity and aging. Increased connections drawn between historical, present, and potential future policy contexts Updated exercises, exhibits, and social media links in-text and an entire suite of web-based tools found through www.routledgesw.com, including complementary reading suggestions and teaching tips, a full library of lecture slides and exam questions, and EPAS guidelines. For use as a resource in foundations generalist social policy courses, either at the baccalaureate or master's level, the new edition of Social Policy for Effective Practice will challenge students to find areas of policy practice that spark their passion and prepare them to think about and use policy practice as a tool that can lead to the changes they care about.

"There is a growing body of literature surrounding the incorporation and complexity of partnership working within service delivery and whilst this edited book adds to that knowledge, it places a specific focus on highlighting examples of best practice within the field of health,social care and criminal justice..... In short, anyone working within the range of areas addressed here is likely to find something of value and, therefore, the book fits with the editors' suggested audience of practitioners, students and managers who increasingly have to work in a joined-up way as part of mainstream business." Michelle Jolley, PhD Student, School of Law, University of Plymouth, UK in The Howard Journal May 2010 "It would be a rare practitioner or manager whose daily round does not include some partnership activity. Yet, glitzy conferences notwithstanding, how often is its practice, let alone its theory properly examined and its value evaluated within those partnership agencies? This is the second edition of a book which aims to do this ... It is worth obtaining this book for Chapter 16 alone. Entitled 'On the receiving end: Reflections from a service user', it should be compulsory reading for every practitioner, manager and politician for its matter-of-fact yet piercing account of being a service user." Journal of Health and Social Care in the Community Volume 18 Issue 1, Published Online: 15 Dec 2009 "The second edition ... offers the reader a range of chapters that consider some of the key areas of social and health care where partnership working can be effective ... The central theme of partnership working is an important one at a time when it has yet again been painful to see how departments, organisations and agencies have failed the vulnerable in preventing some horrendous criminal acts ... this book is a welcome addition to the increasing number of texts that are now addressing working across departmental and organisational boundaries." British Journal of Social Work "Contemporary health and social care requires practitioners to develop effective partnerships with patients and clients and with the wider service workforce. This text is designed to promote the development of such partnerships and demonstrates the ways in which partnership can work effectively in practice... This text is clearly written with all the health and social care professions in mind and will prove to be an invaluable resource for students and trained staff alike." Margaret Chambers, Lecturer in Children's Nursing, University of Plymouth, UK Comprehensive yet concise, this text addresses many of the main social and health issues facing society today, and incorporates a practical focus to demonstrate partnership working. The new edition of this popular book has been updated to include new chapters on the partnership approach in criminal justice and provides a practical and theoretical insight into some of the issues when working in collaborative partnership with other agencies. The text examines the partnership approach to delivering services in relation to: Child protection Mental health Gypsy travellers Domestic violence Drug misuse Homelessness Old and young people HIV and AIDS The first section of the book examines the nature of partnership in relation to concepts, politics, diversity, ethics and information technology. The second edition incorporates knowledge from a range of carefully selected contributors, using their expertise with particular user groups to illustrate where collaboration is crucial for effective practice. The final section reflects upon what has been learnt about partnership work and includes reflections from a service user and a chapter on evaluation. Effective Practice in Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice is an essential text for students, practitioners and managers from a variety of human service agencies, and is a must-read for anyone working in a multi-agency partnership.

The Department of Health requires students on the social work degree to undertake at least 200 days in direct practice learning during their course. Practice learning often raises great anxieties for students, agencies and those who supervise and assess it. This book tackles those anxieties, explaining the ways the experience can deliver a unique learning opportunity for the student. It is ideal for students undertaking or about to undertake practice learning, student supervisors and practice assessors, as well as trainers and policymakers within social care agencies and healthcare professions where practice learning is also undertaken.