Thursday 10 March 2011

Steven Walker, Principal Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Studies, has just published a second edition of the highly acclaimed and best-selling Social Work Assessment and Intervention. The new edition contains a revised format, new chapters and fully updated contents to reflect the fast-changing social work practice and legislative context. The guide, with a contribution from former colleague Chris Beckett, is aimed at both social work and other social care students, as well as staff undertaking in-service training. It is suitable for individual study, or as a resource for trainers. It goes straight to the heart of what assessment is intended to achieve - far beyond gatekeeping of resources or crude risk assessment - and grapples with the tensions and issues around the relationship between assessment and intervention

Care and Health magazine reviewed the book and said, 'It contains a rich mixture of theory and official guidance and practice examples and exercises; similarly, there is an in-depth examination of contemporary assessment practice and contemporary models of intervention. In the process, the authors cover matters such as risk management, role conflicts in assessment and intervention, budgetary constraints, entitlement thresholds, empowerment, and evidence based practice. The publication takes into account the expectations and regulatory requirements of the General Social Care Council and Skills for Care, anti-oppressive practice, psycho-social practice, and multidisciplinary team working and joint budgets. It is an impressive resource-cum-guide.'

The leading social work publication Community Care said, 'A vast amount of information is covered, although succinct summaries at the end of each chapter are helpful. The authors have also included activities and case scenarios, which are followed by commentaries. This interactive approach, coupled with a comprehensive list of further reading, makes it particularly useful for students of social work, whether at an undergraduate or post qualifying level. This book provides a thorough guide through these core elements of practice and includes consideration of relevant contemporary issues.'

For more information about the book, please contact steven.walker@anglia.ac.uk.