This popular and innovative core text book explores contemporary social work theories and perspectives in a systematic way, using an integrated and flexible framework to link context, theory, and practice approaches. Healy expertly provides an applied guide to social work theory across a range of organisational contexts, showing social work as a diverse activity that is profoundly shaped by professional purpose, public policy, and practice locations. This edition has been comprehensively updated to reflect developments in the contexts and theorising of social work practices.
This is ideal reading to support and develop undergraduate and postgraduate students taking modules on Social Work Theories and Methods on qualifying professional programmes. Its international breadth and supportive pedagogical features have ensured the book's value to students of social work all over the world.
New to this edition:
- New sections on post-humanism and eco-social work
- Coverage of a broader range of critical approaches including feminist and anti-racial social work
- Additional practice exercises drawn from realistic case studies.
List of Figures and Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part 1 Introduction
1 Understanding our Context
2 A Dynamic Model of Practice
Part 2 Discourses Shaping Practice Contexts
3 Dominant Discourses in Health and Welfare: Biomedicine and neoliberalism.
4 Behavioural and Social Science Discourses: 'Psy' and Sociological Ideas in Social Work
5 Alternative Discourses: Citizen Rights, Religion and Spirituality, and Environmental Social Work
Part 3 Social Work Theories for Practice
6 Four Waves of Systems Theories: From General Systems Theory to Ecosocial Work.
7 Problem-solving Approaches: Focusing on Task-centred Practice
8 Relationship-based, Strengths and Solution-focused Practice
9 Modern Critical Social Work: Addressing Structural Contexts
10 'Post-Theories': Postmodern, Poststructural and Postcolonial Approaches.
11 Creating Frameworks for Practice
Bibliography
Index
