Formal education has finally ended, you've passed your exams and you're getting started as a newly qualified social worker (NQSW). As you make the transition from student to fully fledged practitioner, you'll soon discover a whole host of challenges as you hit the ground running in your new career. This handbook will guide you through the initial hurdles you will face in this transitional phase, helping you to fully understand your role and how to meet the requirements of NQSW status. The book explores the practicalities of starting work in a new organisation and the professional demands particular to adult and mental health services, such as working jointly with other professions and maintaining your professional identity. A range of strategies are provided for staying motivated, managing stress and developing support networks. The authors also explore the role of supervision and critical reflection, and give advice on continuing professional development. This survival guide is an essential support to students, newly qualified social workers, practice educators and post-qualification practitioners specialising in adult and mental health services.

Social work with vulnerable adults is becoming increasingly centred on a key piece of legislation: the Mental Capacity Act. The Act provides a framework for protecting the vulnerable while allowing those who may lack capacity to have certain safeguards enshrined in law. This book will help support students to learn two things: first, how the Mental Capacity Act operates and what its key principles are when applied to safeguarding adults; and second, what are the compassionate skills and values that need to be interwoven with legislative knowledge? The authors show how these two principles interact and inform one another and how taking a person-centred approach to safeguarding vulnerable adults will mean better outcomes for the individual and our wider society.

"First published in 2009 in Dutch by ThiemeMeulenhoff, The Netherlands, as Inleiding Social Work: vanuit internationaal perspectief."

This book tells stories of just how powerful social work can be. At its heart are stories drawn from frontline practice, ranging from first interviews through to complex decision-making. Along the way, we meet the social worker who assessed a cat (though for all the right reasons). We witness the cost of failing to protect the rights of adults, exemplified in the tragic death of Connor Sparrowhawk. We also see the transformations that can happen when social workers really get it right - as in the case of Peter, whose love of balloons led them to feature in his care plan. These stories from practice are combined with guidance and reflective exercises to offer valuable practice wisdom and learning for new and experienced social workers alike. By turns funny, wise and moving, this book articulates the personal and professional qualities needed to practise rights-based social work. It reveals the potential of the profession to make a difference to the lives of individuals and to communities.

In Self-Leadership in Social Work, Bill McKitterick calls for change in the practice of the profession. Arguing that the current approaches have minimized the social justice focus and therapeutic and change-oriented interventions, McKitterick explores the ways that strong self-leadership can help social workers refocus their attention on efforts that can achieve positive change. He identifies tactics and strategies for providing leadership within a team and in senior positions. Offering a fresh and innovative view of the field, this book will inspire social workers, managers of social services, and social work students to exercise leadership in their own practice.

This popular and accessible introduction to mental health is written for students, mental health practitioners and non-qualified professionals. Fully revised, this second edition is up to date with the latest knowledge on mental health conditions, good practice and the law. The authors explain key concepts in easily understandable language, accessible even to those with no prior knowledge of the subject. They detail the major mental health disorders, the issues surrounding them, and provide detailed information on: * treatment and support * risk assessment and management * mental illness and the Criminal Justice System * the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act Featuring case studies and exercises to assist learning, this is an invaluable resource for anyone working with people who are experiencing mental illness, including students and professionals in health and social care, housing and criminal justice.

So, you've passed your degree and have started your first job. But are you confident about translating the theory into practice? Are you prepared to juggle the workload of a busy social worker? Do you have a plan for your continuing professional development? This practical guide provides a wealth of suggestions to help you to hit the ground running in the early stages of your new career. Fully revised and updated with the latest national frameworks for NQSWs, this survival guide provides a range of strategies for managing your time and workload, and offers suggestions for finding support, coping with stress and maintaining job satisfaction. It addresses different ways of handling challenging and unfamiliar situations with colleagues, managers, other professionals and service users. Each chapter concludes with a checklist of key points as a ready reference for practitioners preparing to face the daily challenges of their new professional status. This invaluable guide will be an essential support for all students, post-qualification and returning practitioners who need to make a smooth transition to practice and be successful in the workplace.