Reconceptualising Work With 'Carers': New Directions for Policy and Practice (Research Highlights in Social Work, 43)

In the wake of the profound changes in policy and practice around caring over the past ten years, this volume takes a fresh look at the social and legal status of carers. Demonstrating the scope and diversity of 'caring' the contributors highlight the positive aspects of caring and the interdependence of many caring relationships but also broach the sensitive and complex subject of `poor' care and the importance of identifying and meeting the needs of 'hidden carers' Arguing that policy and practice must take account of both carers' and users' interests, the contributors re-evaluate the existing role of carers in developing new ideas in the planning and delivery of their services. Each of the book's chapters points to the future and looks at alternative and innovative ways forward in relation to thinking, policy and practice. This will make essential reading for social work and social science academics and students; professionals in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors looking after the interests of carers; health and social care practitioners; nurses and care agency workers. Drawing together a range of critical perspectives from leading academics, this edited volume highlights the need for the social and legal needs of carers to be reassessed. Through tracing the development of carers in social policy research and the various ways they have been counted and categorized, it argues for a fuller understanding of the scope and diversity of caring relationships. While taking account of the positive aspects of caring - the reciprocity and inter-dependence in many caring relationships - it also broaches the sensitive and complex issue of inadequate care and emphasizes the importance of developing new methods of identifying and meeting the needs of 'hidden carers.' This book points to the future and looks at alternative and innovative ways of thinking, policy and practice. The subject of poor, or inadequately funded care is a very sensitive topic that is handled expertly by the contributors to this study. Each chapter points to the future and offers alternative and innovative ways of supplying care in an increasingly complex situation of funding and demographics This chapter aims to set the scene for the rest of the book, first, by exploring the development of 'carers' in social policy research and the different ways in which the term has been constructed, second, by reviewing key debates in the literature.