Post-Qualifying Social Work Practice

'This text is a valuable resource for all those engaged in post qualifying social work practice, whether as candidates on PQ programmes, educators or managers. It is impressive in its coverage of contemporary social work practice across the four countries of the UK. Each contribution stands alone, but I would strongly recommend reading the text as a whole (from beginning to end) as Parts 3 and 4 address a range of pertinent issues for developing post qualifying practice across the profession' - Jackie Powell, Professor of Social Work Studies, University of Southampton. This core textbook provides an authoritative overview of the post qualifying awards in social work. Written in response to recent policy and training guidelines, the book will help social workers enhance their post qualifying knowledge, skills and values within specialist areas of practice. The book: uses critical self-appraisal to construct different ways of thinking about and doing social work; encourages reflection on their practice; enables social workers to build confidence in their professional identity; moves from competence to increased capability and to expertise; helps social workers to explore values dilemmas; increases social workers' knowledge for practice; and, promotes learning and career development. "Post-Qualifying Social Work Practice" examines core assumptions about post-qualifying practice - that values and relationships (including partnerships with service users) are essential to good practice, that social workers will work in diverse organisational structures and that social workers in the United Kingdom should become aware of European models of social work. Patricia Higham is a registered social worker and an independent social work consultant. She is a non-executive director of an NHS primary care trust and emeritus professor at Nottingham Trent University. She has been appointed Visiting Professor of Social Work at the University of Northampton.