Social Work and Evidence-Based Practice - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843101564 ISBN 13: 9781843101567

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley, 2004

Synopsis

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. Covering areas of social work practice that are well established and those in which evidence is just beginning to become available, the authors address issues such as:

* What is to count as evidence, and who decides this?

* If relevant evidence is agreed on, how should it be used in practice?

* How can the thing that made the difference be identified?

* Does success result from the theory employed by the worker, or because the worker is skilled, conscientious and effective?

* How predictable, controlled and orderly can social work become?

Exploring these issues within a range of contexts - from child abuse and domestic violence to looked after children and disability - 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 and the users of social work services. Social Work and Evidence-Based Practice will enable practitioners, managers and policy makers to deepen and coordinate their understanding of the key themes in evidence-based practice.

About this title

About the Author

David Smith is Professor of Criminology in the Department of Applied Social Science at Lancaster University. He is currently researching Black and Asian men's experiences of the probation service and the criminal justice system for the Home Office, anti-racist strategies in Burnley for the Lancashire Constabulary, and has worked and researched widely in the field of social work and probation.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843101564
• ISBN 13: 9781843101567
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 190
• Editor: David Smith