Danielle Turney

The quality of the assessment of children in need has a significant impact on outcomes for the children concerned. Good assessment contributes to better outcomes, but poor assessment can have tragic consequences. Understanding what makes a good assessment is vital. This book brings together findings from 10 years of UK research that shed light on different aspects of child and family assessment, and examines the evidence for what works in promoting the best outcomes for children. It covers thresholds for assessment and intervention, what information should be collected in assessments, and assessments in different contexts. It also examines key aspects of practice and the factors that can help or hinder good quality assessment. These areas include analysis, critical thinking and reflection; engaging with children and families; and inter-professional working. Structural, procedural and organisational factors are also considered. In summarising the research, this important book provides key messages on the links between assessment and outcomes for children, and offers implications for policy and practice. It will be essential reading for social work practitioners, academics, students and researchers, and all those in the child protection field.

'For many readers, especially trainers and educationalists, the thoroughness of this book is likely to be attractive. The added advantage of O'Connor et al's book is that it covers social work for both adults and children. [This book] is likely to appear on many social work reading lists. [It has] the potential to provide good learning opportunities for post-qualifying as well as pre-qualifying training' - Health and Social Care in the Community `A useful framework for practice to accompany undergraduate learning, and also the post-qualifying consolidation of social work knowledge, theory, and skills' - Dr Patricia Higham This lively and engaging textbook is an adaptation of the bestselling introductory social work book available in Australia. This edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect wider changes that have characterized social work training and practice in recent years. It offers the reader an essential grounding in the core knowledge, values and skills needed for successful completion of their degree. Key features of the book include: - Comprehensive content - includes discussion of theoretical perspectives, policy; assessment; intervention, the ethics and values framework; and practice-learning. - A student-friendly approach - includes case-studies, chapter summaries, further reading sections, and discussion questions. - A multi-professional perspective - recognises the experiences of all those working across the field of social care and incorporates service-user's voices. - Practice-oriented - offers specific guidance to overcome challenges and provides an effective framework for practice. This authoritative textbook will be an essential guide to the challenges and concepts underpinning social work practice. It offers a flavour of what social work entails and engages with recent debates about the nature of practice. It will be an invaluable text for social work trainees, and will also be useful reading for post-qualifying students and practitioners.