Are you a social work student looking to understand how the law, ethics and social policy interrelate in practice? Then look no further! Whether you a student or Newly Qualified Social Worker working with children and families or adults at risk of harm, this practical guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to fulfil your professional responsibilities and practice with confidence. This book covers all the areas of law you need to know: social work with children and families, vulnerable adults and social issues such as welfare and homelessness. Each section concludes with a discussion of how social policy and ethics relate to each area of social work law. This gives real-world context to what you have learnt, alongside thought boxes, exercises and case studies in each chapter to further encourage reflection and put theory into practice.

Law and ethics are two vital aspects of social work – all social workers need to practise according to the law and their codes of ethics and conduct. However, the relationship between the law and social work values and ethics is not without its tensions and this book takes a problem-based approach to explore the dilemmas and challenges that can arise. The first part of the book sets out frameworks for thinking about the law and ethics, and how they relate to social work. It also introduces some of the big philosophical and sociological questions about the purposes of law and of ethics and how they relate to society more generally. In the second part, the book explores a series of areas where profound dilemmas arise – such as end-of-life decisions, respecting peoples’ choices but ensuring their safety and that of others, responsibility and blame, making allowance for different cultural traditions and breaking confidentiality. In each of the problem-based chapters, this accessible text: outlines the relevant law discusses court judgments in leading cases considers the implications of different ethical frameworks pulls out key ethical questions and challenges for social work. Social Work, Law and Ethics highlights what the law says and what it offers, what ethical principles are at stake, and what these imply for social work policy and practice. In this way, it uses real-life scenarios to analyse the dynamic interactions of social work, law and ethics. It is essential reading for all social work students.

How do social workers in the UK legal context act ethically? What do we understand by ethics and how does social work law relate to it? Social work practice in all countries incorporates a clear, unstinting commitment to social justice, but what is social justice? Using an applied, practice-based and refreshingly ′real′ approach, this text bridges the gap between law and ethics. Each chapter opens with a case study which considers ethical dilemmas in real life practice. Chapters have been designed to help students strengthen their critical reflection skills, encouraging consideration of the legal and ethical dimensions of social work generally and in personal practice. Topics such as care proceedings, adoption, community care, youth justice, mental capacity and accountability explore how understanding and application are equally important.

This book will help social work students gain a secure foothold in understanding aspects of law as applied to social work practice. It is not a law manual or full of complicated legal jargon remote from the everyday realities of practice, but rather brings the reader closer to safe, legally-appropriate social work. It not only covers recent changes to legislation such as The Children and Families Act 2014 and The Care Act 2014, but also other key areas of legislation and policy including human rights , youth justice, child protection and mental capacity. There are updates to case law and codes of practice and numerous case studies and reflective activities to help underpin knowledge and learning. Affordable, practical and tells you exactly what you need in order to pass assignments and prepare for practice. Key Updates include new information on: · The Children and Families Act 2014 · The Care Act 2014 · Working Together to Safeguard Children (2012) · Mental Capacity Act 2005 This book is in the Transforming Social Work Practice series. All books in the series are affordable, mapped to the Social Work Curriculum, practical with clear links between theory & practice and written to the Professional Capabilities Framework.

Puzzled by terminology, skills, law, or theory? Revising for your placement or exam? Then look no further! This series of concise and easy-to-use A-Zs will be your guide. Designed for both students and newly-qualified social workers, this book will introduce you to over 300 key laws, legal terms, and legal processes in a concise and no-nonsense way. It covers all areas of social work practice - adults, children and families, mental health, and youth justice - ensuring you have the knowledge you need to apply the law appropriately, ethically and with confidence.

Social Work and Human Rights is a standard text underscoring the role of social work in protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, both within and outside of the United States. Through rigorous analysis, classroom exercises, and a frank discussion of the implications for practice, the volume effectively acquaints readers with the political, economic, and social dimensions of rights issues and the documents that guarantee them. New material covers international events, such as the United Nation's Millennium Project and its effort to reduce the poverty and suffering of billions worldwide. The volume now features an emphasis on cultural rights and a probing lesson in cultural relativism. It turns a critical eye toward the failure in the U.S. to address social welfare issues and to rectify policies that favor one group over another.

This book addresses this relationship between the professions of social work and law and helps social workers develop the knowledge necessary to practice in a legal environment. The author focuses on how the law affects the day-to-day practice of social work; the creation, administration, and operation of social service agencies; and the ways in which social workers and attorneys collaborate to serve the public.