Sharing the care of children in families is increasingly becoming the norm in modern-day society as more mothers enter paid work and government campaigns endeavour to increase the number of men working in childcare. However, running alongside debates of gender imbalance in childcare, there has also been mounting anxiety from the media and public about the risks of child abuse, often perceived as being mostly perpetrated by men and calling for firmer regulation of men's involvement with children. This book asks whether men's care for children, both as fathers and practitioners, actually differs at all from the care provided by mothers and female carers? In what ways do men and concepts of masculinity need to change if they are to play a greater role in the care of children or are such societal perceptions based on outdated gender stereotypes? Bringing together cutting-edge theory, up-to-date research and current practice, this book analyses the role of both fathers and male professionals working with children and highlights the implications of this for future policy and practice. It also examines dominant notions of masculinity and representations of male carers in the media and popular culture, asking how our societal expectations may need to evolve if men are to play an equal role in the care of children as demanded by current policy and wider social developments.

This reader provides a diverse selection of accounts of interpersonal communication and relationships in the context of health and social care. Most of the contributions are personal narratives by people using or working in care services; the majority are contemporary and many have been written especially for this anthology. The book also includes other kinds of accounts, including attempts to encapsulate in fictional, poetic and visual form something of the nature of encounters in the context of care. There are sections on changing relationships, the way things happen, the physical context of care, difficult encounters, and working together, as well as cross-cutting themes such as power and diversity.
Relating Experience is an essential resource for students of social work, nursing, health and social policy, and for all involved in health and social care services, whether as professionals, carers or service users.

This reader provides a diverse selection of accounts of interpersonal communication and relationships in the context of health and social care. Most of the contributions are personal narratives by people using or working in care services; the majority are contemporary and many have been written especially for this anthology. The book also includes other kinds of accounts, including attempts to encapsulate in fictional, poetic and visual form something of the nature of encounters in the context of care. There are sections on changing relationships, the way things happen, the physical context of care, difficult encounters, and working together, as well as cross-cutting themes such as power and diversity.
Relating Experience is an essential resource for students of social work, nursing, health and social policy, and for all involved in health and social care services, whether as professionals, carers or service users.

This Reader provides a comprehensive collection of literature that aims to enable those involved in care services, as workers, carers or service users, to reflect on their everyday interactions and to situate them in wider contexts. Including new material from the frontline of research and practice, as well as some classic readings, this wide-ranging volume emphasises the need to see interpersonal communication as embedded in relationships, and to take account of issues of power and diversity, as well are, the book is concerned with caring, professional and inter-professional communication and relationships.

- The Reader is divided into four sections, focusing on:
- concepts and contexts
- analysing aspects of communication
- the person in the process
- communication and relationships in organisations

Communication, Relationships and Care will be an essential resource for students of social work, nursing, health and social policy, and for all involved in health and social care services, whether as professionals, carers or service users. It is a set book for the Open University's second level undergraduate course Communication and Relationships in Health and Social Care (K205)

Contents:
Introduction 1. Communication, relationships and care: the changing context 2. Themes and issues in communication and relationships 3. Developing good practice 4.Communication and relationships in care organisations.

How do views about children shape research concerned with their lives? What different forms can research with children take? What ethical issues does it involve? How does it impact on policy and practice, and on the lives of children themselves? This book helps you to understand how research is designed and carried out to explore questions about the lives of children and young people. It tackles the methodological, practical and ethical challenges involved, and features examples of actual research that illustrate: Different strategies for carrying out research Common challenges that arise in the research process Varying modes of engagement that researchers can adopt with participants and audiences; and The impact that research can have on future studies, policy and practice.

Sharing the care of children in families is increasingly becoming the norm in modern-day society as more mothers enter paid work and government campaigns endeavour to increase the number of men working in childcare. However, running alongside debates of gender imbalance in childcare, there has also been mounting anxiety from the media and public about the risks of child abuse, often perceived as being mostly perpetrated by men and calling for firmer regulation of men's involvement with children. This book asks whether men's care for children, both as fathers and practitioners, actually differs at all from the care provided by mothers and female carers? In what ways do men and concepts of masculinity need to change if they are to play a greater role in the care of children or are such societal perceptions based on outdated gender stereotypes? Bringing together cutting-edge theory, up-to-date research and current practice, this book analyses the role of both fathers and male professionals working with children and highlights the implications of this for future policy and practice. It also examines dominant notions of masculinity and representations of male carers in the media and popular culture, asking how our societal expectations may need to evolve if men are to play an equal role in the care of children as demanded by current policy and wider social developments.

This substantially updated new edition sets out the contexts of children's and young people's lives and encourages students to explore their complexities and contexts. Each chapter challenges students' assumptions and examines crucial issues in the field, such as participation, race, and transnational childhoods.

How do views about children shape research concerned with their lives? What different forms can research with children take? What ethical issues does it involve? How does it impact on policy and practice, and on the lives of children themselves? This book helps you to understand how research is designed and carried out to explore questions about the lives of children and young people. It tackles the methodological, practical and ethical challenges involved, and features examples of actual research that illustrate: Different strategies for carrying out research Common challenges that arise in the research process Varying modes of engagement that researchers can adopt with participants and audiences; and The impact that research can have on future studies, policy and practice.