Brian J. Taylor

As a practising social worker, you will need to be able to make sound judgments in complex contexts and when you are under pressure. This book covers the essential knowledge you will need to understand and develop skills in relation to professional judgement and decision making processes, including: - the use of assessment tools; - engagement in assessment and decision processes; - the context of risk, complexity and uncertainty in practice; - communication and management of risk within social care processes.

As a practising social worker, you will need to be able to make sound judgments in complex contexts and when you are under pressure. This book covers the essential knowledge you will need to understand and develop skills in relation to professional judgement and decision making processes, including: - the use of assessment tools; - engagement in assessment and decision processes; - the context of risk, complexity and uncertainty in practice; - communication and management of risk within social care processes.

In 1967, following my return from the Antarctic, I decided to have my ‘Antarctic Journal’ typed with a view to having it published. The mission failed despite the fact that Sir Vivian Fuchs, then Director of the British Antarctic Survey, liked what he was able to read of the ‘book’ and even offered me the services of his literary agent. Now, in 2020, the storey behind the book is closest, historically, to those accounts written in the 1950s by Kevin Walton and Ellery Anderson, that is when dogs and dog sledging was the principal means of transport, when communication with the outside world relied on a short telegraph on one’s next-of-kin and the arrival, annually, of ship-borne mail and when the normal tour of duty was two years. Therefore, this book represents a brief period of time in the history of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (F. I. D. S.) and British Antarctic Survey (B. A. S) when the decision was taken to establish a field station at Fossil Bluff, situated approximately half way down the eastern coast of Alexander Island, in order to survey, topographically and geologically, the little explored Alexander Island and the adjacent part of the Antarctic Peninsula. And so, in late February 1961, Cliff Pearce, John Smith and myself volunteered to become the first to over-winter at Fossil Bluff, a daunting prospect but one to which all three of us looked forward with eager anticipation.

At a time when accountability and the avoidance of risk are increasingly demanded of social workers, the ability to make clear and informed decisions is essential. This book, written for practicing social workers undertaking their ASYE and compulsory CPD, has been designed to help professionals make sound judgments in increasingly complex contexts and under pressure. The focus is on empowering front-line professionals through reflective practice, so that they are able to draw on multiple factors and perspectives and make sound problem-solving judgements. The book begins with the core concepts, client focus, and legal background before moving on to consider the collaborative processes and the nature of individual judgements. It then considers particular dimensions of social work decision making, such as safeguarding, taking risks, assessment and dynamic decision tools and processes. It then concludes by look at the organisational context of decision management, with a focus on supervision, training and effective communication.

At a time when accountability and the avoidance of risk are increasingly demanded of social workers, the ability to make clear and informed decisions is essential. This book, written for practicing social workers undertaking their ASYE and compulsory CPD, has been designed to help professionals make sound judgments in increasingly complex contexts and under pressure. The focus is on empowering front-line professionals through reflective practice, so that they are able to draw on multiple factors and perspectives and make sound problem-solving judgements. The book begins with the core concepts, client focus, and legal background before moving on to consider the collaborative processes and the nature of individual judgements. It then considers particular dimensions of social work decision making, such as safeguarding, taking risks, assessment and dynamic decision tools and processes. It then concludes by look at the organisational context of decision management, with a focus on supervision, training and effective communication.

Social work research often focuses on qualitative designs and many students believe that the quantitative research pathway is either too complicated or is beyond their grasp. This book outlines how social work students can undertake a research project from either a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methodological approach. The authors introduce key concepts in an accessible and structured manner and go on to demonstrate each of the approaches from inception of research idea, to realisation of methodological approach, to research process, to data analysis and conclusion. More than just another research text, this book remains grounded in social work practice and has clear links to the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work.

Social work research often focuses on qualitative designs and many students believe that the quantitative research pathway is either too complicated or is beyond their grasp. This book outlines how social work students can undertake a research project from either a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methodological approach. The authors introduce key concepts in an accessible and structured manner and go on to demonstrate each of the approaches from inception of research idea, to realisation of methodological approach, to research process, to data analysis and conclusion. More than just another research text, this book remains grounded in social work practice and has clear links to the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work.

How do social work students learn to use research to underpin their practice decisions? How do they learn that research is not an activity unconnected to their professional role and responsibilities, but rather acts as a foundation for their knowledge? By using the examples drawn from evidence-based practice (e.g. what is known to work and what we know about social work processes), the authors deliver a text that will help support students to appraise and then integrate research into both their daily practice decisions and their assignments and assessments. It will do this by defining key concepts like 'knowledge' and 'evidence' and then look at how these concepts include component parts - from law and legislation to practice knowledge and reflective and critical practice. Case examples are used to illustrate how a clear understanding of these component parts can build to a substantial evidence base from which to draw upon. Identifying relevant research and appraising its quality are core aspects of the book. Later chapters show students how robust knowledge of evidence-based practice can develop into a clear and confident approach to their workloads and their daily practice dilemmas.

How do social work students learn to use research to underpin their practice decisions? How do they learn that research is not an activity unconnected to their professional role and responsibilities, but rather acts as a foundation for their knowledge? By using the examples drawn from evidence-based practice (e.g. what is known to work and what we know about social work processes), the authors deliver a text that will help support students to appraise and then integrate research into both their daily practice decisions and their assignments and assessments. It will do this by defining key concepts like 'knowledge' and 'evidence' and then look at how these concepts include component parts - from law and legislation to practice knowledge and reflective and critical practice. Case examples are used to illustrate how a clear understanding of these component parts can build to a substantial evidence base from which to draw upon. Identifying relevant research and appraising its quality are core aspects of the book. Later chapters show students how robust knowledge of evidence-based practice can develop into a clear and confident approach to their workloads and their daily practice dilemmas.