Counselling Skills in Social Work Practice (Counselling Skills S.)

From amazon: In what ways is counselling relevant to contemporary social work? * How do counselling skills integrate with social work roles and responsibilities? This book examines these skills and their applicability, drawing from social work and counselling theories and methods using clear, practical examples. Skills are discussed with reference to social work knowledge and values illustrating how, when used competently, contextually and sensitively they can appropriately underpin good social work practice. Questions and activities for self development are linked to the practices discussed. This new edition of Counselling Skills in Social Work Practice has been thoroughly revised to reflect the National Occupational Standards for social work which identify the importance of communication skills and a developmental understanding of people in their social contexts. The chapters are linked to the six key roles for social work practice. This book builds on the strengths of the first edition, as well as addressing the challenges of practice in relevant legislative and policy contexts. The book includes: * Evidence of how the competencies which underpin counselling practice are directly transferable to effective social work practice * Practical advice on communication skills * Examples of how to build effective working relationships; a whole chapter is now devoted to the specific skills required for working within inter-agency and multi-disciplinary teams This book is key reading on the subject of ethical and effective social work for those teaching, studying or practising in the field. This book shows how the skills which underpin counselling practice are directly transferable to effective social work practice. The ability to listen and respond effectively to people who use services is a key skill which every social worker must have. Equally the capacity to build effective working relationships with people who use services and other professionals is fundamental to practice within organizations for person-based practice and inter-agency and multi disciplinary work. The National Occupational Standards for social work identify the importance of communication skills and a developmental understanding of people in their social contexts. They also emphasize the importance of promoting wellbeing and human dignity and choice. It is absolutely clear that social workers need to have the basic counselling skills for communicating and relating and preferably to develop more advanced skills depending on the setting where they work and their roles and tasks. This book examines these skills and their applicability, drawing from social work and counselling theory and using examples of practice. Skills are discussed with reference to social work knowledge and values illustrating how, when used competently, contextually and sensitively they can appropriately underpin good social work practice. It is revised with reference to the National Occupational Standards for social work, the associated guidance and the statement of expectations from individuals, families, carers, groups and communities who use services and those who care for them. It includes a new chapter on relevant skills for working across agency boundaries and in multi disciplinary teams. It also includes questions and activities for self development Annotation There has been a tension in social work between the managerial and administrative functions undertaken for society (e.g. child protection; compulsory admissions under mental health acts) and the need to meet with people at their point of need, respect them, combat disadvantages and inequalities and build relationships which solve problems, promote wellbeing and lead to the provision of good services. People who need social work services have consistently said that they want to be listened to, supported, have a voice about what services are provided and be treated with dignity and respect. This book argues that counselling skills are the way to learn to listen to, respond effectively to and build relationships with the people who use services, colleagues and other professionals. Counselling skills are shown to be compatible with the main roles and functions of social work outlined in the National Occupational Standards (2003) which identify 6 key roles for social work practice. The book is organized around these. Practice examples illustrate the integration of counselling skills with ethical and effective practice with a range of service users, adults and children and a variety of organizational settings. The book will be useful to anyone teaching or practicing social work and those who want to know what social workers really do This is a no-nonsense guide to the application of counselling skills to social work practice. It is written from the author's first-hand experience of working in the field and teaching counselling skills to social work students. The book is packed full of useful hints and tips for trainees and busy practitioners, and illustrated throughout with examples of good practice. The author argues that relationships remain at the heart of good social work practice and that interpersonal transactions are highly significant in creating and maintaining an effective outcome.. "Counselling Skills in Social Work Practice is recommended to all social work students and qualified social care professionals seeking to improve their practice. This is a guide to the application of counselling skills to social work practice. It is written from Seden's first-hand experience of working in the field and teaching counselling skills to social work students. This edition contains information of new standards and practical examples