New or experienced social workers who are developing their collaborative practice with service users and carers and with other professionals, will find this book to be an essential source of knowledge, skills and issues for reflection. The authors explain how practitioners in social care, health and related sectors can work more effectively together in line with current developments in policy and practice, offering a critical appraisal both of the benefits and the challenges. The authors explore definitions of collaborative work, describe policy and research and give examples from their experiences of interprofessional practice. They emphasize the importance of building genuine partnerships between professionals, and with service users and carers in planning and providing care, service development and research. Good practice in collaborative working is described with different groups, including older people, people with mental health needs, children and families and people with learning disabilities. Exploring the ways in which shared values and collaborative working practices can be brought together for effective interprofessional provision of user-focused services, this informative book is a must-read for social workers and other professionals involved with social care and health services.

This positive book brings together current good practice in education and training for care professionals around a central theme of involving service users and improving the quality of their care. The contributors set out a strategy for the teaching of theory and practice to care professionals in the context of changing policy and practice in agencies and in higher education. Helpful guidance is offered to education and training providers in universities and agencies on the preparation of care professionals for the new millenium and beyond. Topics addressed within the book include: * international comparisons * research teaching * the bridging of vocational, professional and academic frameworks * user involvement * assessing professional competence * teaching anti-discriminatory practice. While drawing primarily from social work, this book takes an interprofessional approach and will be essential reading for all health and care education providers. Rachel Pierce and Jenny Weinstein have brought together academics, researchers and practitioners, to reflect with them - both positively and critically - on a broad range of contemporary educational developments, thus providing a sound analysis to shape future arrangements for quality professional education and training.