Book Review: Social Work Models, Methods and Theories. A Framework for Practice
| Published date | 01 June 2002 |
| Author | Pam Green Lister |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050204900226 |
| Date | 01 June 2002 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
179
What this book does offer is an
excellent insight into various social work
settings for adult victims of abuse. Jacki
Pritchard offers by way of introduction a
discussion of what is meant by the term
‘vulnerable’ and how this is interpreted
into service provision, and resource
allocation. She asserts a need for
institutional abuse to be brought out into
the open and to be discussed and
reviewed. There is clearly a gap in
research and discussion around the area
of adult abuse in favour of adults being
solely perpetrators of abuse. What I had
hoped for specifically, was a discussion if
not analysis of how the Probation Service,
if not the Criminal Justice system,
manages, for want of a better word, the
dichotomy of adult abuse victim/
perpetrator. The book notes that in 1991
the Association of Directors of Social
Services notes five client group categories
as vulnerable – the elderly and very frail,
those suffering from mental illness, those
with a sensory or physical disability, those
with a learning disability, and, those who
suffer from severe physical illness. These
categories apply to those in the current
hostel environment in which I work; yet
I have found it difficult to find literature or
resources to acknowledge and support
those who have offended with
vulnerability issues.
Despite my reservations and
disappointments about coverage, this ninth
addition to the ‘Good Practice’ series is a
worthwhile read and is dynamic and
thought-provoking (I was able to make
links with my own practice and reflect on
suggestions as to how to develop my
thinking and practice). It offers
practitioners and academics a forum
to discuss their specific thinking and
good practice as well as to reflect on
gaps in provison. Specifically, it
highlights the necessity of multi-agency
collaboration. The book is particularly
thought-provoking in considering work
with domestic violence, with Ruth Ingram
of Leeds Social Services re-framing it as
‘adult abuse’.
This book is a helpful guide to those
training in social work and probation
studies. Its coverage is broad yet in many
ways detailed, particularly in its breadth
of settings. I also think it would be useful
as a resource for practitioners – even if
simply to serve as a reminder – offenders
can also be vulnerable. Caroline Bald
Deputy Hostel Manager,
Essex
Social Work Models, Methods and
Theories. A Framework for
Practice
Paul Stepney and Deirdre Ford (eds)
Russell House, 2001; pp150;
£16.45, pbk
ISBN: 1-898924-83-X
In their introduction to this book Stepney
and Ford suggest that social work today
has been descended on by an “uneasy air
of compliance” (p.vii). The book aims
to explore a range of practice theories,
models and methods within the current
political, economic and social policy
climate. The first section of the book
examines the social policy context and
anti-racist practice, and revisits the theory
and practice debate in the light of the
contradictions and tensions experienced in
social work. The influence of New
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