This important and accessible book deals with current issues in practice teaching and learning in social work for practitioners, students and academics. Written from an international perspective, this book draws together the knowledge and experiences of those from different countries working in a variety of social work settings. The contributors highlight the links and collaboration between college-based and practice-based learning, and discuss the diversity of the settings in which social work takes place. The book as a whole demonstrates the existence of universal issues and opportunities as well as detailing differences in practice teaching and learning. In this way it is an essential guide to the working of social work for practice teachers, practitioners and students.

Focusing on how groupwork can be learnt and taught, the authors of this accessible and lively book consider what is essential in effective work with groups. They develop a practice model which is applicable to a wide range of approaches and actively promotes anti-oppressive groupwork. It has been extensively trialled and refined in a mainstream social services agency. Using `activities' to promote the reader's understanding and involvement, The Essential Groupworker describes how to plan, set up and maintain a working group. The authors look at the ways in which power and power relations, and individual and group identities influence the success or failure of a group. They show how to evaluate outcomes and apply knowledge gained through experience, and consider ways of approaching group endings. Written for students, practitioners and educators, The Essential Groupworker will stimulate effective and creative groupwork practice in a wide variety of settings.

This is a comprehensive guide to integrating assessment, learning and practice, reflecting current concerns in health and social care. The authors - an academic, a training officer and a practitioner - present complementary perspectives to bring theory and practice closer together. Arguing that a holistic approach to learning can fit with a competency approach to assessment, the authors show how this promotes both efficiency and creativity in evidence-based professional practice. They also demonstrate how their combined assessment and learning tool, the 'signposted portfolio' can work in practice. This portfolio forms both a summary of what the social work student or health care practitioner has learnt and the foundation of an assessment document. This practical and thoughtful resource is essential reading for trainers, practitioners, managers and students in health and social care who are seeking to provide the best service to their clients.

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.