Demonstrating the scope and diversity of 'caring', the contributors highlight the positive aspects of caring and the interdependence of many caring relationships but also broach the sensitive and complex subject of 'poor' care and the importance of identifying and meeting the needs of 'hidden carers'.

This is the first text to examine the principal elements of service user involvement and participation across both adult and children′s services. A valuable learning resource, it draws together information from research, service users, carers and practitioners across both groups. In addition, it gives an overview of the specific knowledge, attitude and skills that social workers need for training at qualifying level and integrates theory with evidence to inform everyday social work practice. Furthermore, case studies and activities encourage reflection and the application of this knowledge to practice situations.

This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States. In today's mental health services, there is a pressing need for practitioners to place greater emphasis on working with users of services and to use skills that have a sound theoretical basis. This book focuses on evidence-based practice but reflects that, in mental health, the best evidence is the personal experience of the user. Many publications explore theoretical aspects of service delivery or provide an in-depth analysis of specific clinical interventions. However, how practitioners comprehensively amalgamate theory with their practice is often missing. This book fills that gap and seeks to guide, plan and suggest down-to-earth treatment ideas for individuals on a day-to-day basis. Mental health practice focused Full of practical advice, user-friendly, clearly accessible and well-designed Reflects user-input, including a chapter written by a user of mental health services describing their experiences of mental illness Leading contributors from practice Early intervention Supervision Implementation and practice development issues Meaningful activity and recovery Engaging and working with carers Relapse prevention

In this clear and insightful book, best selling author Malcolm Payne analyses the major elements of social care practice, explaining how caring and social work skills and values are crucial to effective social care. Through theory, research evidence and skill development, Payne identifies the varying contexts in which social care takes place, the agencies that provide it and the relationships at its heart. The book explains the key practical social care skills: - How to be receptive to users' and carers' own understanding of their needs - How to develop continuity in service provision - How to use effective interpersonal engagement with users and carers to ensure a positive future for them in which they have as much control over their care as possible - How to work in partnership with colleagues and other agencies With practice and case examples, research boxes, further reading and reflection activities, this book is a stimulating read for social work and community care students and practitioners.

It is estimated that 750,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and 500,000 partners, family members and friends are involved in caring for someone with dementia at a value of £6 billion a year, if care was provided by health and social care services (Department of Health, 2009). This book is about hearing the stories of six carers; half the carers identified as lesbian or gay. The findings were illuminating, as the carers did not experience the person with dementia as a burden, but rather found contact with health and social care services to be burdensome due to the fragmentation of services, an absence of knowledge about carers’ entitlements, and care services seeing the dementia first rather than the person. Positive aspects in the relationships between the carers and the cared-for endured. This book is relevant to anyone who supports a person with dementia in a paid or unpaid capacity, or has a role in the provision or commissioning of services and wants to understand better the policy context, and, most importantly, the strategies that support people with dementia to maintain a sense of identity and wellbeing.

Working with older people has become an increasingly important part of social work education and practice. Whether studying community care, adult services, human growth and development, or social work processes and interventions, this book will be a vital source of information and help. Working with Older People provides a framework of knowledge, skills and values pertinent to qualifying social work courses and the new post-qualifying award in Social Work with Adults, including discussion of: ideas about human development and theories of older age legislation, social policy and social welfare skills for working with older people assessment and care planning partnership working. Written by two experienced educators and practitioners, this key text facilitates individual or group learning through features such as objectives for each chapter, case studies and further reading suggestions. There are numerous activities throughout the book and the final chapter contains pointers to consider for all of the activities. It will be essential reading for social work students and qualified social workers.

New austerity measures have substantially changed the landscape for social and health care in the United Kingdom. Fully updated to reflect key developments under the New Labour and Coalition governments, this second edition of Understanding Health and Social Care provides an up-to-date guide to the increasingly important partnership between health and social care workers. Jon Glasby combines practical information about welfare systems with key theoretical material to present a complete picture of these overlapping fields.