Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2011): Social care - UK

Breaking the silence

S. Gillen

Professional Social Work, Nov. 2011, p. 20-21

The Law Commission recommended in its May 2011 report on adult social care law that safeguarding in England should be put on a statutory footing. This article outlines initiatives already under way in other parts of the United Kingdom to improve adult protection, with particular reference to the implementation of the Adult Support Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.

Enterprising care? Unpaid voluntary action in the 21st century

I. Hardill and S. Baines

Bristol: Policy Press, 2011

More and more is being expected of volunteers and the voluntary sector in the UK. This book seeks to add new insights to the themes of volunteering, care and enterprise by drawing on a decade of research by the authors in collaboration with organisations involved in care. Perspectives of individuals, organisations, and communities are presented in a series of case studies. The achievements of volunteering activated through communities of interest and identity are contrasted with recent policy emphasis on volunteering at the local level.

Interprofessional collaboration in social work practice

K. Crawford

London: Sage, 2011

Interprofessional collaborative practice is high on the policy agenda for social work trainees and practitioners. This book explores the issues, benefits and challenges that interprofessional collaborative practice can raise. Chapter-by-chapter the book will encourage the reader to critically examine the political, legal, social and economic context of interprofessional practice. It also explores how social workers can work effectively and collaboratively with other professions while retaining their own values and identity. Key features include:

• activities to illustrate the ways in which collaborative working can impact upon the experiences of service users, carers and practitioners
• discussions looking at the different people and organisations with whom social workers might work in practice
• examples of research and knowledge for practice
• a glossary to act as a useful quick reference point for the reader
• a companion website.

Making room for 'paraprofessionals'

G. Carson

Community Care, Nov. 3rd 2011, p. 28-29

Unison's survey of people working in social work support roles has shown them to be undervalued, underpaid and undertrained. With no centrally defined list of tasks that can only be carried out by qualified social workers, support staff are being asked to take on jobs that can lie beyond the limits of their skills and training, leading to concerns over risk, stress and burnout. Unison would like to see a national paraprofessional programme to clarify the roles of assistants, as well as career structures and training opportunities.

Social work with substance users

A. Nelson

London: Sage, 2012

This book provides a detailed understanding of problematic substance use across a range of social work practice settings. Written from both an anti-discriminatory and evidence-based perspective, the book highlights successful responses to the issues. Each chapter includes reflective exercises and examples of further reading, challenging students to critically reflect on their practice. It covers:

• Historical and current policy relating to prohibition and drug use
• A range of substances and their potential effects on service users
• Models of best practice including screening and assessment, brief intervention, motivation approaches and relapse prevention
• Particular issues and needs of a diverse range of service user groups