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Book Review: Professional Decision-Making and Risk in Social Work Practice

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date01 December 2013
DOI10.1177/1473225413505390b
AuthorStephen Case
Date01 December 2013
Subject MatterBook Reviews
YJJ505390.indd Book Reviews
273
Overall, this is a thoroughly informative and accessible read. Moran’s book will appeal
to a broad readership from both the academic community and the wider public with an
interest in policing and law enforcement in Northern Ireland. Moran highlights the com-
plexities and difficulties facing policing in Northern Ireland. Further, he asserts an impas-
sioned and impartial case for greater understanding of the importance of crime,
criminality and law enforcement in the Northern Irish peace process. The unbiased nature
of the book and the inclusion of interview material allow the reader to reach their own
conclusions as to the nature and intention of paramilitaries, law enforcement agencies and
crime in the peace process since 1998. Consequently, this book is a welcome addition and
a decisive study in policing and security in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Belfast
Agreement.
Brian Taylor, Professional Decision-Making and Risk in Social Work Practice,
2nd Edition, Sage Publications, London, 2013, £22.99 Pb, ISBN 978-1446266595.
Reviewed by: Dr Stephen Case, Swansea University, UK.
This text is targeted at professionally qualified social workers undertaking post-qualification
education and training. It aims to help them to become more reflective and to exercise
appropriate decision-making in relation to risk. The author’s stated intention is ‘to provide a
consolidated framework of knowledge and skills relevant to judgment and decision-making
with all client groups… transferable across jurisdictions and organisational arrangements’
(p. 1). Taylor addresses these ambitious and worthwhile objectives by outlining relevant
theoretical aspects of decision-making in a variety of contexts (mental health, disability,
criminal justice, youth justice, family and child care) and discussing the breadth and depth
of knowledge, skills and values required to support practitioner judgment, decision-making,
safeguarding and gatekeeping with these client groups....

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