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Social Work Theory and Practice
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Social Work Theory and Practice



January 2017 | 256 pages | Learning Matters
Understanding how theory informs social work practice is an area that students can often find challenging.  This book will help students understand how theory impacts and informs social work practice across a range of contexts and with different service user groups. It starts off by briefly setting the context, introducing students to the importance of social work theory and its development over the years, before moving on to look at different types of theory across 17 tightly structured chapters. These cover a range of psychological theories, sociological theories, ethics and moral philosophies, political theories and ideologies, and organisational theories.
 
Introduction
 
Introduction to Social Work Theory
 
PART ONE – Psychological Theories
 
Psychoanalysis, psychodynamics and social work practice: the conflicted ‘self’
 
Behaviourism and the science of control
 
Cognitive psychology and social work
 
Humanistic psychology
 
Human growth and development
 
PART TWO – Sociological Theories
 
Social constructivism and social work
 
General systems and ecological theories
 
Feminism and Social Work
 
Reflexivity
 
PART THREE – Ethics and Moral Philosophies
 
Deontology
 
Utilitarianism
 
Virtue Ethics
 
Ethics of Care
 
Radical Ethics
 
PART FOUR – Political Theories and Ideology
 
Radical Social Work
 
Five Models of Disability
 
Anti-Discriminatory Practice
 
PART FIVE – Organisational Theories
 
Classical and modern management theory
 
Organisational culture
 
Conclusion

One of the very best books on Social Work Theory and Practice. Easy to read and a book I recommend for any frontline social worker and student of social work.

Dr Charles Batinda-Mugisha
Department of Social Work, Bucks New University
January 15, 2017