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This book provides a definitive critical introduction to service user views and involvement. It addresses both the theoretical and practical issues of service user involvement, and includes initiatives on the impact and outcomes from involvement.

The Changing Role of Social Care provides an overview of the structure and function of social care at practice, management and policy levels. It contains contributions from leading academics, researchers and practitioners in the UK, and also includes chapters on the experiences across the United Kingdom and abroad.

The contributors to this volume examine the range and nature of problem behaviours among children and young people and the changing nature of their offending, which is reflected in the ongoing examination of philosophies, practices and policies and the tension between `welfare' and more traditional `justice and punishment' approaches.

This book addresses the issue of domestic violence against women, drawing on research findings, policy developments and current debates to contextualise its alarming prevalence and to propose informed ways of addressing, through training and practice, the needs of both victims and perpetrators in current social and related care provision.

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 volume provides an overview of social work education, including the background and current context. It covers the key debates surrounding social work education, such as the evaluation of Social Work Education, the use of IT, research mindedness, and the effectiveness of interdisciplinary education.

Substance misuse and its pervasive problems is a constant challenge for social work, health and related professionals today. It is paramount that professionals remain up-to-date on current issues and their responsibilities. Based on research and evidence, this book provides a sound basis for grounded and innovative practice.

Youth Offending and Youth Justice engages constructively with current policy and practice debates, tackling issues such as the criminalisation and penalisation of youth, sentencer decision-making, the incarceration of young people and the role of public opinion. It also features an applied focus on professional practice.

Based on both research and practice, this book provides a comprehensive picture of the success, fairness and significance of child protection services for children, parents and individuals. It approaches the problem of child abuse from the various perspectives of those affected (abused children and young people, parents and professionals).

This book analyses the key debates about the role that inspection plays in increasing public accountability and encouraging service improvement. Contributors describe current inspection methods across the key public sectors, and examine the underlying issues and tensions associated with public services inspection.

Developments in Social Work with Offenders explains the organisational and legislative changes that have occurred in social work and probation across the UK in the past 10 years, in the context of the accumulating body of knowledge about what constitutes effective practice in the assessment, supervision and management of offenders in the community.

Residential Child Care draws on the latest research to offer guidance for developing best practice, policy and improved outcomes for children and young people. Contributors examine important aspects of residential care work, and address the concerns about the poor outcomes for young people leaving care.

This book explores the theory and practice of the developing innovative practice of 'co-production' - a model of service in which users of a service will play an active and participatory role in the service provided to them, adopting a working partnership. This book is important reading for social care practitioners and service providers.

This volume reviews recent research into the nature and effects of addiction and considers the usefulness of policies which aim to prevent it. The contributors focus on topics such as smoking, alcoholism, gambling and injecting drug use, examining treatment and the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programmes.

This book draws together the latest research on fundamental leadership issues in social care, discussing collaborative leadership and the importance of place-based development, exploring the key disciplines of supervision, management and leadership and examining the purpose of a learning framework for social care.

This book redefines the issue of disability as a social rather than an individual problem and considers the implications of this view for the provision of services and for social work practice. It looks at the experience of people with disabilities in society, and the influence that their organisations have had on service provision.

Based on key research into assessment, treatment and recidivism, this book offers practical guidance on improving intervention techniques with sex offenders. The contributors explore the monitoring and surveillance strategies and cognitive-behavioural techniques currently in use, and give clear directions for future practice.

The contributors to this book bring together research material from the wide range of disciplines involved and present an overview of the information needed for effective practice. They examine the practicalities of reparation orders, family group conferencing, restorative cautioning schemes and the workings of youth offending teams.

Significant changes have occurred in recent years in the nature and delivery of social work services to offenders and their families. Working with Offenders considers the implications for policy and practice of research which has focused upon a range of social work activities.

Growing Up with Disability encompasses a wide range of perspectives on childhood impairment and its social implications. The book adopts a child-centred approach, stressing the importance of communicating with disabled children, and includes interviews and pieces of their own writing. The book explores how such children can best be protected.

Risk Assessment in Social Care and Social Work outlines the theoretical issues behind the decisions, processes and organisations involved in risk assessment. Written by leading academics and experienced practitioners, it considers implications for future policy, drawing on the full range of perspectives in the most recent research.

Effective Ways of Working with Children and their Families examines the latest evidence about the most successful forms of intervention when working with children and their families. The book covers a wide range of approaches and services, with particular emphasis on those methods seeking to help children with identified problems.

Evidence-based practice - what it might mean, how it can be achieved, whether it should be aspired to - is the subject of much debate and argument in social work. The authors demonstrate why evidence-based practice is important, but also why it is important to think clearly and carefully about its implications for the social work profession.

Presenting research that will underpin effective practice with women who offend, this unique and thought-provoking text aims to help professionals meet the needs of this group as well as providing a theoretical resource for policy makers and academics.

Written by key figures in the field of social care training and management this book provides practice guidance for front line managers in social care. Refocusing attention on the management of practice and accountability within services, the authors provide a variety of perspectives on how front line managers can support practice.

Examining the theory and practice of work with people with mental health problems, this volume considers the current state of policy and organisation and the changes that have taken place over the last decade in the field. The book charts the move away from separate, specialist services, and the resultant impact on service provision.