This book offers a comprehensive and practical introduction to practice skills required across the human service sector. The authors systematically outline the key stages of interaction with clients: building the helping relationship, collaborative assessment, taking action, evaluation and closure. They examine the skills needed for working with different types of clients: individuals, families and community groups. They also explore the dilemmas faced in daily practice, including the challenges of working with involuntary clients, clients from different cultural backgrounds and clients in crisis situations. Detailed case studies demonstrate how welfare services can be delivered in different contexts.

Table of Contents

CONTENTSTables and figures AcknowledgementsContributorsPart I Preparing to learn practice skills 1 Introduction: The Integrated Framework - Jane Maidment and Ronnie Egan2 Skill-based learning - Jane Maidment3 Anti-oppressive and strengths-based practice - Ronnie Egan and Alison Lewis-Nicholson4 Delivering helping services online and over the telephone - Jane Maidment5 Preparing for practice - Lesley Cooper and Daryle RigneyPart II Phases of the helping relationship6 Developing the helping relationship: Engagement - Ronnie Egan7 Engaging with clients in different contexts - Helen Cleak and Ronnie Egan8 Engagement with families involved in the statutory system - Robyn Miller9 Introduction to assessment - Jim Anglem and Jane Maidment10 Conducting risk assessments - Christine Morley11 Assessment from a cross-cultural perspective - Lynne Briggs12 Working with families - Yvonne Crichton-Hill13 Taking Action: Intervention - Ronnie Egan14 Fac

About the Author

Jane Maidment is a senior lecturer in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University, Australia. Ronnie Egan has extensive experience as a social worker, and is a lecturer in Social Work at Victoria University, Melbourne.