Assessment & Intervention in Social Work
Preparing for Practice
- Chris Beckett - University of East Anglia, UK
Chris Beckett's new book on assessment and intervention in social work practice covers the core topics for qualifying social work students. The book provides a thorough understanding of the issues and skills essential for effective practice. Each of the nine chapters defines a key concept, including Assessment; Intervention; Risk and Efficacy. Case studies and 'practice questions' throughout make the connections between theory and practice explicit. Suggestions as to further reading are made at the end of each chapter.
This important book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate social work students throughout all three years of their training, but it will be particularly useful for students who are on on placement, or who are reflecting on their experiences on placement. It is also a useful resource for practice teachers who need a framework for discussing practice with students they supervise on placement.
This book provides an interesting insight into the key issues facing social work practitioners involved in assessment. In particular I liked the approaches to thresholds and the competing issues which social workers face when assessing and intervening in the private life of individuals. Overall an accessible read and a book which achieves its goal of being easy to read from cover to cover or as individual chapters. Its readablity makes it a particularly good text for students or front line practitioners wanting to reflect on and improve their practice.
Chris Beckett is always a good read and will undoubtedly be accessible to the students who are finding assessment abstract at the moment.
An ideal book for Social Workers returning to the profession, after a period out of practice. It compliments the teaching, and supports the shadowing placement element of the course.
A useful practical approach.
