Writing For Social Work

Social workers are required to communicate in writing for a range of purposes and audiences. The new edition of this best-selling book aims to raise the profile of writing skills in social work practice. It encourages the development of writing techniques which will stand the reader in good stead throughout their professional career. Examples of the types of writing covered include: - Case-notes - Reports - Proposals - Literature reviews - Journal articles - Funding applications. Reflective exercises, hot tips for effective writing and further reading are included in each chapter. The book is also linked to the professional standards that structure training, practice and continuing professional development. It will be an essential study guide for all students, practitioners and managers in social work settings.

`This work provides some tools for sharpening thinking, writing and practice. It is a readable, accessible and highly relevant text, suitable for all social workers′ - Professional Social Work `This book will become a key reference text for many social workers both while studying and as established professionals. A well -thumbed text on the bookshelf!′ - Janice West, Glasgow Caledonian University Social workers are required to communicate in writing for a range of purposes, and to write effectively for a range of audiences, such as clients, team members, magistrates and policy makers. Writing Skills for Social Workers aims to raise the profile of writing skills in social work practice, and to enhance social workers′ written communication skills. The book adopts a logical progression, and each chapter identifies and contextualises the practical skills needed at specific points in training and practice. Overall it will encourage the development of writing skills and techniques which will stand the reader in good stead throughout their professional career. Key features of the book include: " training in core professional writing tasks, particularly case-notes, report and proposal writing " guidance in advanced writing skills, such as writing literature reviews, journal articles, conference papers and funding applications. " a discussion of ethical issues and values, including client confidentiality, privacy and empowerment " advice on using these skills to contribute to the formal knowledge base of social work through the publication of research. By adopting a practical approach the authors have included a number of pedagogical features such as reflective exercises, writing tips for specific tasks, and guidelines for further reading. This engaging book satisfies statutory requirements for training and continuing professional development. It will therefore be an essential study guide for all students, practitioners and managers in social work settings.

This accessible book aims to help social workers write clearly, accurately and objectively in all contexts, so that they can communicate effectively with multiple audiences. The book gives social workers practical guidance and advice on how to write unambiguously, efficiently and analytically, demonstrating how important writing skills are to the professional identity of social workers. Topics covered include: -Techniques for planning and organising your writing -A refresher on grammar rules to enable you to write with clarity -Viewing critical writing as part of the process of decision making and thinking -Guidance on using professional anti-oppressive language and vocabulary appropriate to different audiences -Advice on all communication types, including emails, letters, case notes, reports, funding applications, text messages and social media -Information on the legal frameworks you need to be aware of when recording events, conversations and recommendations Each chapter contains exercises and examples of good analytical writing, to help writers to develop their own competence. Case studies drawn from real scenarios relate the skills being discussed directly to practice. This book is an indispensable manual for all social work students, newly qualified social workers and experienced professionals who want a practical guide to improving their writing. Communication, including writing skills, is an essential aspect of effective social work practice. Taking a practical and reflective approach, this text covers the foundations of professional writing in social work. Writing matters, and this text serves as a useful resource to engage in and master effective writing skills for social work students all the way to seasoned social work practitioners. Barbra Teater, Professor of Social Work, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, USA This book forms part of the Social Work Skills in Practice series. The series focuses on key social work skills required for working with children and adult service users, families and carers. The books offer both theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge, alongside the application of skills relevant for day-to-day social work practice. They are an invaluable resource for pre-qualifying students, newly-qualified social workers, academics teaching and researching in the field, as well as social work practitioners, including practice educators, pursuing continuous professional development. Louise Frith is a Student Learning Advisor at the University of Kent, UK, specialising in writing skills and writing for academic purposes. She teaches across disciplines, including working with students on the BA and MA social work programmes. Ruben Martin is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Kent, UK and a freelance Practice Educator and Consultant. He has also authored Teamworking Skills for Social Workers, in this Social Work Skills in Practice series.

This invaluable guide helps social workers develop the writing skills necessary for a successful career. Actual examples drawn from all arenas of social work demonstrate strong and problematic writing. Organized around the core social work curriculum, the book’s examples are applicable to every foundation course. Each example begins with field notes and proceeds through drafts to the final version, with explanations about corrections. Readers learn by doing through exercises interspersed throughout. Written by a social work and an English professor, the book provides a fusion of writing and practice, covering all the tools necessary for developing professional social work writing skills. Key Features: Provides chapters for each of the BSW/MSW foundational courses (HBSE, Practice, Policy, Research, and Fieldwork) to exemplify writing expectations in each area. Juxtaposes original drafts and corrected final versions with explanations about corrections made to highlight common mistakes. Includes writing samples used in actual practice such as research reports, court documentation, grant applications, intake forms, progress notes, press releases, and case assessments that exemplify every day challenges. Provides self-assessments and exercises to help readers identify their strengths and challenges. Highlights typical writing challenges including sentence structure, punctuation, use of voice and excessive verbiage, and sample resumes and cover letters, providing a valuable lifetime resource. Encourages practice in writing in different contexts and with different audiences to prepare readers for working in any social work venue. Covers legal and ethical issues and writing to influence policy and transmit research findings. New to this edition: Emphasizes writing fundamentals (new Ch. 1) by breaking the process into steps from note taking, to rough drafts, to editing the final version, to help students master most writing tasks. Connects critical thinking (new Ch. 2) and cultural competency skills (new Ch. 3) to writing and infuses this information throughout the book. Addresses CSWE 2015 EPAS and competencies to better prepare readers for writing professional documentation. Discusses the use of the APA style used in social work practice. Provides instructor’s resources including Power Points, a sample syllabus, and assignments, tips, and activities for using the book in writing and foundational courses. Designed for writing-specific social work courses such as interviewing and documentation, professional seminars, as well as writing modules in all BSW and MSW foundation courses, this book is ideal for anyone interested in strengthening their social work writing skills.

This accessible book aims to help social workers write clearly, accurately and objectively in all contexts, so that they can communicate effectively with multiple audiences. The book gives social workers practical guidance and advice on how to write unambiguously, efficiently and analytically, demonstrating how important writing skills are to the professional identity of social workers. Topics covered include: •Techniques for planning and organising your writing •A refresher on grammar rules to enable you to write with clarity •Viewing critical writing as part of the process of decision making and thinking •Guidance on using professional anti-oppressive language and vocabulary appropriate to different audiences •Advice on all communication types, including emails, letters, case notes, reports, funding applications, text messages and social media •Information on the legal frameworks you need to be aware of when recording events, conversations and recommendations Each chapter contains exercises and examples of good analytical writing, to help writers to develop their own competence. Case studies drawn from real scenarios relate the skills being discussed directly to practice. This book is an indispensable manual for all social work students, newly qualified social workers and experienced professionals who want a practical guide to improving their writing. Communication, including writing skills, is an essential aspect of effective social work practice. Taking a practical and reflective approach, this text covers the foundations of professional writing in social work. Writing matters, and this text serves as a useful resource to engage in and master effective writing skills for social work students all the way to seasoned social work practitioners. Barbra Teater, Professor of Social Work, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, USA This book forms part of the Social Work Skills in Practice series. The series focuses on key social work skills required for working with children and adult service users, families and carers. The books offer both theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge, alongside the application of skills relevant for day-to-day social work practice. They are an invaluable resource for pre-qualifying students, newly-qualified social workers, academics teaching and researching in the field, as well as social work practitioners, including practice educators, pursuing continuous professional development. Louise Frith is a Student Learning Advisor at the University of Kent, UK, specialising in writing skills and writing for academic purposes. She teaches across disciplines, including working with students on the BA and MA social work programmes. Ruben Martin is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Kent, UK and a freelance Practice Educator and Consultant. He has also authored Teamworking Skills for Social Workers, in this Social Work Skills in Practice series.

Writing is an important skill, not just for a social work degree, but also as an integral part of practice. Social workers need to be able to write effectively in a range of formats for different contexts. Equipping students with guidance on both academic and assessed writing, and writing in social work practice, this book will use case studies and examples to develop their ability to plan and respond to the challenges of new and familiar writing tasks.

Social work practitioners write for a variety of publications, and they are expected to show fluency in a number of related fields. Whether the target is a course instructor, scholarly journal, fellowship organization, or general news outlet, social workers must be clear, persuasive, and comprehensive in their writing, especially on provocative subjects. This first-of-its-kind guide features top scholars and educators providing a much-needed introduction to social work writing and scholarship. Foregrounding the process of social work writing, the coeditors particularly emphasize how to think about and approach one's subject in a productive manner. The guide begins with an overview of social work writing from the 1880s to the present, and then follows with ideal strategies for academic paper writing, social work journal writing, and social work research writing. A section on applied professional writing addresses student composition in field education, writing for and about clinical practice, the effective communication of policy information to diverse audiences, program and proposal development, advocacy, and administrative writing. The concluding section focuses on specific fields of practice, including writing on child and family welfare, contemporary social issues, aging, and intervention in global contexts. Grounding their essays in systematic observations, induction and deduction, and a wealth of real-world examples, the contributors describe the conceptualization, development, and presentation of social work writing in ways that better secure its power and relevance.

Based on original research, this book offers students an insight into the nature and challenges of writing in social work practice, enabling them to improve their writing skills. It explores the ways in which both students and qualified social workers can be more effective in their writing through an awareness of the purpose, context and audience. It makes explicit the connections and differences between learning to write in university and communicating through writing in practice and explores the impact that new technologies have on academic and professional writing. Drawing on both research and examples from practice, Effective writing for social work is a valuable tool for students, educators, practitioners and managers to critically examine ways in which writing could better support best practice in social work.