Competence in Social Work Practice: A Practical Guide for Professionals Kieran O'Hagan (Ed) Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1996; £12.95 pbk
| Published date | 01 December 1996 |
| Date | 01 December 1996 |
| Author | Brynna Kroll |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059604300412 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
child abuse, and conciliation - a
particularly unusual choice.
All the practice-based chapters have
a similar structure and format. General
issues within the particular area of
practice are raised through the use of
case material, and evidence for
competence is teased out in a way that
feels very realistic. Gerry Heery’s
criminal justice chapter highlights
interesting tensions between the social
work task and current trends in probation
practice although, sadly, he does not
develop them. He then takes the PSR
interview as his focus, although the
process also included a discrete piece of
work. Practice and theory integration
were ably demonstrated in the use-of
interpersonal skills and the understanding
underpinning them, as well as use of
motivational interviewing as a key
intervention. Descriptions of supervision
sessions where issues of difference and
Competence in Social Work
negative assumptions were tackled
Practice: A
Practical Guide for
worked extremely well. The fact that the
Professionals
student found the client a job lent the
Kieran O’Hagan (Ed)
piece a rather fairy tale element and
made me feel
Jessica
quite nostalgic.
Kingsley Publishers, 1996;
I thought it was a pity that the risk
£12.95 pbk
analysis chapter was not broadened out to
My heart ached and a drowsy numbness
include other areas in addition to child
pained my sense, as though of hemlock I
protection, particularly as this is such an
had drunk, as along came another book
issue for all social work professionals.
about social work competencies to
I was also left wondering about the more
review. Even Keats, however, would have
’maverick’ chapters and could not decide
been charmed by this one, as indeed was I.
whether this was inspired lateral thinking
Produced by a team of lecturers and
or simply a reflection of the particular
agency partners from Queen’s University
interests of this group of authors.
Belfast, it sets out to make ’a major
This book works - it really does - it
advance in social...
To continue reading
Request your trial