Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice - Softcover

Fook, Jan

4.19

16 ratings by Goodreads

9781473913035: Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473913039 ISBN 13: 9781473913035

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2016

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Social work is a human profession founded on social justice. It is difficult, however, to negotiate this in the constantly changing context of the 21st century. Drawing on her own experiences and the experiences of others, Jan Fook returns to address the critical tradition of social work, supporting students in their understanding of the possibilities of critical practices in changing contexts.

Part One: Critical Potential and Current Challenges sets the historical and current contexts for critical social work, introducing students to what critical social work is and what it means for practice.

Part Two: Rethinking Ideas unpicks the major concepts associated with critical social work, including knowledge, power, discourse, identity, and difference, and how these need to be rethought in new contexts.

Part Three: Redeveloping Practices illustrates how these new ideas can inform new practices, proving students with all the tools you need to deliver flexible, responsible and responsive social work practice.

Celebrating the ageless ideals of the profession, this book throws a life belt to all social work students and professionals looking to engage with the critical tradition of social work to improve their understanding and practice.

Jan Fook is Visiting Professor of Professional Practice Research, Royal Holloway, University of London and Chair in Education (Critical Reflection), Kingston University and St Georges, University of London

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About the Author:

Jan Fook initially trained as a social worker but has been an academic for over 35 years. She has worked in Australia, Canada, Norway and the UK, ad has held academic positions in social work, continuing professional development, interprofessional working and also education. She is currently Professor of Higher Education Pedagogy at Leeds Trinity University in the UK. Her ongoing interest is in professional education and research on professional practice. Over the last 20 years she has focused on developing critical reflection, and has conducted many workshops with professionals around the world.

She is probably most well known for her work on critical social work and critical reflection. Her research work involves the empirical research of professional practice, and developing better methods for representing the complexity of this. In particular, she is currently engaged in developing critical reflection as a method for researching experience. She has published approximately 100 book chapters and articles. Her 14 books include: Radical Casework (Allen & Unwin); Professional Expertise (with Martin Ryan & Linette Hawkins, Whiting & Birch); Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice (Sage), Practising Critical Reflection (with Fiona Gardner, Open University Press) and Researching Critical Reflection (with Val Collington, Fiona Ross, Gillian Ruch and Linden West, Routledge).

Review:

The content and approach offer a high standard of learning materials for students studying social work. Author: Audrey Roulston

It is a very useful book that integrates post modern and critical theory in a way that challenges the reader to develop more effective social work practice. Author: Anna Gupta

Fook is effective in placing herself within her writing and this compels readers to journey with her in exploring the interface of our evolving personal and professional selves. Author: G. Brent Angell

This has been a valuable resource both in my teaching of undergraduate social work and for my own continuous development. Author: Prospera Tedam

This book is our "social work bible". Author: Christine Morley

A must-read for progressive social work. Author: Merlinda Weinberg

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