Systems Theory For Social Work And The Helping Professions

Social systems occur in many contexts of social work. This book provides an easy-to-read introduction to systems thinking for social workers who will encounter social problems in their professional practice or academic research. It offers new insights and fresh perspectives on this familiar topic and invites creative, critical, and empathetic thinking with a systems perspective. Through introducing systems theory as a problem-oriented approach for dealing with complex interpersonal relations and social systems, this book provides a framework for studying social relations. The authors present a strand of systems theory (inspired by sociologist Niklas Luhmann) that offers innovative, surprising, and practically relevant understandings of everyday social life, inclusion/exclusion, social problems, interventions, and society in general. Systems Theory for Social Work and the Helping Professions should be considered essential reading for all social work students taking modules on sociology and social policy as well as students of nursing, medicine, counselling, and occupational health and therapy.

Replete with numerous diagrams, charts, tables, and exercises, the second edition of Social Work Practice: A Systems Approach brings alive the systems model of social work practice. Learning systems analysis will lead you to a more dynamic view of reality. With this book as a guide, you are sure to give your social work practice the overhaul it needs. This user-friendly text will allow you to integrate micro and macro modes of intervention, sensitize your practice, enhance your conflict resolution skills, and analyze system-environment structures and currents.The basis for popular ecological models in current social work literature, the systems model can be used to understand social change, to plan or direct social change, and to analyze environmental impacts on human growth and behavior. As Social Work Practice: A Systems Approach explains, the systems model is appropriate for international social work because it is applicable across cultural and societal boundaries. This book provides you with specific system-based intervention steps, descriptions of problem situations, and an understanding of practice theory for your social work practice. A key resource for educators, students, and practitioners, it discusses: creating an effective network of social services the implications of ecological theory for social work practice eco-mapping systems-oriented concepts in the social sciences and social work the individual person as a system managing social change and conflict processes gleaning effective strategies from existing practice models With its outline of a one-semester master's level course in systems analysis and its discussion of the 20th-century paradigm shift from reductionism to wholeness, Social Work Practice: A Systems Approach will be a great asset to social workers both within and beyond the classroom. Those in other helping professions, such as education, psychology, and organization development, will also find this book vital to understanding the changes experienced during the last 30 years. You will discover how many systems-based professional social work roles and strategies are compatible with existing models.

Revised edition of Interviewing for the helping professions, [2014]

This book provides an interdisciplinary structure to critique existing approaches that have failed to eradicate systemic inequalities across helping professions. This timely contribution offers helping professionals sought after resources that many are clamoring for to improve their practice, their pedagogical stance, and their knowledge as it relates to antiracism and antiracist approaches. This collection of chapters that cover antiracist research, theory and practice approaches is in direct response to Kendi’s (2019) call to action to examine and revise institutional policies and practices to become antiracist. Collectively this book advances existing research and resources by providing interdisciplinary strategies for helping professionals to engage in antiracism through critical evaluation of research, practice, and policies. Doing so empowers helping professionals across disciplines to employ antiracist strategies that deconstruct and dismantle racism embedded within the foundational origins, professional standards, and disciplinary practices of helping professions while simultaneously merging research, practice, and advocacy that employs antiracist practices.

Transforming Leadership Pathways for Humanities Professionals in Higher Education includes thirteen essays from a variety of contributors investigating how humanities professionals grapple with the opportunities and challenges of leadership positions. Written by insiders sharing their lived experience, this collection provides an authentic look at the multiple roles humanities specialists play, as well as offers strategies for professional growth, sustenance, and satisfaction. The collection also considers the relationship between disciplinary areas of study, academic training, and the valuable skill sets and habits of mind that serve higher education leaders. While Transforming Leadership Pathways emphasizes that a leadership route in higher education can be a welcome and positive professional move for many humanities scholars, the volume also acknowledges the issues that arise when faculty take on administrative positions while otherwise marginalized on campus because of faculty status, rank, or personal identity. This collection demystifies the path into higher education administration and argues that humanities scholars are uniquely qualified for such roles. Empathetic, deeply analytical, attuned to historical context, and trained in communication, teachers and scholars who hail from humanities disciplines often find themselves well-suited to the demands of complex academic leadership in today’s colleges and universities.

This handbook provides an authoritative and cutting-edge overview of current research and trends related to the emerging field of digital technology and social work. This book is divided into six sections: Reframing Social Work in a Digital Society Shaping a Science of Social Work in the Digital Society Digital Social Work in Practice The Ethics of Digital Social Work Digital Social Work and the Digitalization of Welfare Institutions: Opportunities, Challenges and Country Cases Digital Social Work: Future Challenges, Directions and Transformations This book, comprised of 40 specially commissioned chapters, explores the main intersections between social work theory and practice in an increasingly digitized world. Bringing a critical focus to how social work as a profession is adapting exponentially to embrace the benefits of technology, it gives specific consideration to the digitalization of the social work profession, including the ways in which social workers are using different forms of technology to provide effective services and innovative practice responses. With chapters on big data, digital archiving, e-citizenship and inclusion, gerontechnology, children and technology, and data ethics, this book will be of interest to all social work scholars, students and professionals as well as those working in science and technology studies more broadly.

Using a bio-psychosocial framework, this popular textbook explains the wide basis of perspectives on which we build an understanding of people's behaviours and why and how we respond in the way we do. This book accessibly explains key concepts including attachment, trauma, developmental psychology and oppression to highlight and enhance social workers' understanding of practice. Thoroughly updated since its popular first edition, the book now includes: A brand new chapter on Attachment More coverage of neurological concepts and their influence on behaviour Expanded material on older people and resilience, crime and violence against black and minority ethnic groups, and domestic violence issues More coverage of mental health, alcohol and drugs and their impact on behaviour Fully updated to reflect the Munro report and recent social worker task force recommendations, this new edition also includes brand new and additional case studies and pedagogy, making this a practical, insightful and wonderfully comprehensive text suitable for all students of social work. "This second edition is a most inclusive, accessible and fully updated text. It provides a thorough overview of the major theories and concepts and brings these to life with case examples. The inclusion of contemporary issues such as domestic abuse is a welcome feature. I would fully recommend this text to any student studying for a social work qualification." Debbie Thackray, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK "This second edition expands on topics that are vital to good social work practice. The chapters on attachment and trauma are particularly well-written, and speak to topics often overlooked in academic texts. The sections on foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) provide readers with essential knowledge that will enhance practice on many levels. Although this has been written in the context of social work practice, this important book will be compulsory reading for a broad range of students... I consider this an invaluable contribution to any student library." Jill Davey, Framework Lead for Social Work, Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology, Bournemouth University, UK "This is the most useful text I have ever found for teaching social care and youth students the basic explanatory frameworks for human behaviour. It is superbly balanced in that it gives weight to all perspectives and proffers critiques of key theories. It is also very strong in applying theory to practice - a skill which is always difficult to develop in students. Particular areas of strength are the chapters on attachment and mental health/ trauma. The work is an engaging read as it includes some fascinating historical insights and illustrations as well as contemporary case studies. I will certainly recommend it to my students." Gwen Chaney, Course Leader for Social Care & Faculty Lead for Learning and Teaching, University of Gloucestershire, UK