Loss and Social Work (Transforming Social Work Practice)

Service users frequently encounter services at times of personal or family crisis. As a result, all social workers need to be aware of the impact of loss if they are to work effectively. This book looks at theoretical developments surrounding issues of change, loss and grieving, encouraging social workers to explore and reflect on the relevance of such issues to their own practice. Furthermore, the book discusses the potential impact of practitioners′ own experiences of loss. Issues are explored with reference to the Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers, National Occupational Standards and examples of interdisciplinary working across contexts.

Caroline Currer is a Reader in Social Work at Anglia Ruskin University. She began her social work career as a psychiatric worker in North West Pakistan and then worked at the University of Warwick, undertaking research into the mental health needs of Pathan mothers. Since 1992, she has been part of the social work team at Anglia Ruskin University, where she was Field leader in Social Work and responsible for the development of the new degree. She teaches the ′Loss and Social Work′ course to qualifying and post-qualifying students.