This is Volume V of seven in a collection on the Sociology of Mental Health. Originally published in 1964, the object of this book is to study a particular group of social workers, those trained as psychiatric social workers. It was begun in the belief that their work should not be 'left to the imagination' and that an accurate factual picture of their training, practice, professional activities, research and writing would inform and clarify. It has been designed to answer certain questions: who are psychiatric social workers? What do they do? Are they 'half-baked' or adequately trained? How has psychiatric social work been moulded?

Originally published in 1964 Psychiatric Social Work looks at psychiatric social work as an established form of professional social work in Great Britain, as well as the mental health policy introduced at the time of the book’s publication. The book looks at how social workers in the 1960s were striving for professional status, and the interest that grew around their professional status during this period. The book examines changes and issues in their training and a general picture of those who qualified. It looks at the careers of a group of social workers and follows the developments in child guidance, mental hospitals, and the care of the mentally ill in the community. The contribution of social workers is discussed and their activities of the professional associations in training and professional development is examined. This book will act as an important historical look at the changes to social work.

Social Work and Mental Health offers a fresh approach to addressing mental health issues, emphasizing the relevance of mental health for all social workers, not just those in specialist mental health settings. The book engages critically with the complexities of contemporary theory, policy and practice, recognizing developments in user and carer involvement and interprofessional working. Key chapters focus on inequality and diversity, drawing attention to the social determinants of health and the important contribution of social work in promoting social perspectives. Practice issues include the mental health of children, young people and families, and older people. Promoting rights, recovery and social justice - and balancing these with considerations of risk - are core themes running through the text. The book contains a number of examples and points for reflection intended to encourage critical thinking and further exploration of the issues. Suggestions for additional reading and resources are offered at the end of each chapter. Overall the book provides a valuable framework for understanding and responding to mental health issues that will be useful for social work students and practitioners as well as a wider audience.

First published in 1998. This is Volume VII, the final of seven in the Sociology of Mental Health series. Written in 1953, this book is about individuals who choose and are chosen for psychiatric social work, the use that they make of training and the shaping of their careers when they enter employment.

First published in 1998, this pioneering text examines how social, political and organisational changes in Ireland have shaped mental health social work practice in the late twentieth century. The co-editors have gathered together a range of contributors who provide knowledge and expertise in a variety of disciplines and practice settings which helps reveal the complex relationship between mental health social work, the citizen and the state in Ireland, North and South. The volume includes chapters on a range of current issues facing mental health social workers and practitioners drawing on various sources in Ireland, Europe and North America. These include psychiatric social work practice, mental health policy, mental health social work and the law, community care policies, addictions work, and work with older people.

Despite extensive changes in the organisation of social and psychiatric services, there had been no study of mental health social work in the UK since the early 1960s. There was, however, no shortage of ‘received wisdom’ about the perceived failure of social work to provide a service to the mentally disordered. Originally published in 1984, it was to provide some basic information about the practice of social work in this field that the study was conducted on which Mental Health Social Work Observed is based. The authors looked at both long-term work and emergency work in which the use of compulsory powers was requested. In addition to the views of social workers, the opinions of psychiatrists, family practitioners and of the clients themselves were sought in order to gain a full picture of social work in practice. Through their thorough immersion in the field of study and through their experience of social work and of mental health issues, the authors were able to provide a sympathetic and lucid account of the difficulties of mental health social work and of the thorny issue of interprofessional relationships which will ring true to the practitioner. They produced recommendations relevant to social work practice at the time and this book would be found useful to social workers and their managers, to psychiatrists, family practitioners, psychiatric nurses and clinical psychologists. Of particular relevance to the then current changes in the role of the social worker under the new mental health legislation is the authors’ study of mental health emergency work, culminating in a recommended code of practice.

Containing over 25,000 entries, this unique volume will be absolutely indispensable for all those with an interest in Britain in the twentieth century. Accessibly arranged by theme, with helpful introductions to each chapter, a huge range of topics is covered. There is a comprehensiveindex.