Reflective Practice for Social Workers:: A Handbook For Developing Professional Confidence

Reflective practice is at the heart of becoming a competent and confident social work professional. This book demystifies the reflective process and provides a straight forward knowledge base to enhance professional development.

Whether you are a qualifying social work student, a practitioner with supervisory responsibilities, or are engaged in professional post qualifying education and training, this book will help you to understand and evidence your development as a reflective practitioner, and guide the assessment of others’ ability to reflect.

Topics covered include:

• How to develop a professional identity and an understanding of professional culture
• A summary of key theoretical explanations of the concepts of ‘reflection’ and ‘reflective practice’
• The significance of Emotional Intelligence for social work practice and how the reflective process can enhance interpersonal and intrapersonal competence
• How to overcome common obstacles to reflective practice, including low motivation and lack of confidence in your reflective abilities
• How to write reflectively in order to evidence development of reflective practice to others
• How to create a learning environment that enables growth and development through reflection and provides accurate assessment outcomes

Written in a straightforward and engaging way, with reflective activities and resources throughout, this key resource will develop your knowledge, understanding and application of reflective practice.

"This is a well-written text that provides much-needed clarity around a central process within professional social work. Students, practitioners and managers will learn lots about how to use reflection effectively. Linda Bruce writes with authority and a deep understanding - she has done an excellent job."
Steven Hothersall, Head of Social Work Education, Edgehill University, UK

"This is an extremely important area of practice in the current complex world of social work practice and social care. It takes students and practitioners through the relevant knowledge and theory base and appropriate tools for reflection. I thoroughly recommend it."
Joyce Lishman

Linda Bruce has been involved in facilitating pre-qualifying, qualifying and post qualifying learning of the social work workforce for over twenty years as a University Lecturer, Practice Teacher, Mentor and Training Officer. She has practice experience in both the statutory and voluntary sectors.