Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice 3rd edition

In this text for social work students, educators, and practitioners, Karen Healy (social work, University of Queensland, Australia) provides a critical introduction to social work theories of direct practice and the ideas shaping the institutional contexts of practice. This third edition spotlights biomedical and neoliberal discourses on health and welfare provision as they have shaped policy and practice recently. The first two chapters outline three key sets of discourses shaping social work practice and introduce a dynamic model of practice, showing interactions among institutional context, service user, community expectations, professional practice, and practice framework. The next part of the book points to the three sets of discourses as manifested in health and welfare social service contexts. The text’s final section considers five types of social work theories for practice. The text features b&w graphics, case-style exercises, review and summary questions, and annotated recommendations for books and web sites in several subject categories. This third edition offers new sections on relationship-based social work, anti-racist practice, and post-colonial theory, along with new discussion of citizens’ rights and post-humanist approaches. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
This popular and innovative core text book explores contemporary social work theories and perspectives in a systematic way, using an integrated and flexible framework to link context, theory, and practice approaches. Healy expertly provides an applied guide to social work theory across a range of organisational contexts, showing social work as a diverse activity that is profoundly shaped by professional purpose, public policy, and practice locations. This edition has been comprehensively updated to reflect developments in the contexts and theorising of social work practices. This is ideal reading to support and develop undergraduate and postgraduate students taking modules on Social Work Theories and Methods on qualifying professional programmes. Its international breadth and supportive pedagogical features have ensured the book's value to students of social work all over the world.New to this edition:- New sections on post-humanism and eco-social work- Coverage of a broader range of critical approaches including feminist and anti-racial social work- Additional practice exercises drawn from realistic case studies.