ABSTRACT
An Introduction to Using Theory in Social Work Practice equips the reader to use fourteen key social work theories to guide each phase of the planned change process, from engagement through to evaluation. Suitable for a generalist approach, this book illustrates the value of applying theory to practice in a variety of social work roles, across diverse fields and facing assorted challenges.
- The first section provides a practical foundation for beginning to use theory in your social work practice.
- Section two looks at how you can translate and integrate fourteen theories commonly found in social work across each phase of the planned change process. The theories discussed are: behavioural, interpretive anthropology, psychodynamic, evolutionary biology, cognitive, symbolic interactionism, strengths, social constructionism exchange economics, role, ecological, critical, feminist, and systems theory.
- The final section addresses some key issues for real life social work practice, including common barriers to using theory in practice, the potential for multi-professional communication and theory-sharing, and developing an integrative theoretical model for your own personal practice.
Linking to core competencies identified by the Council of Social Work Education, this text supports social work students and practitioners in developing vital skills, including critical thinking, applying theory and the effective use of the planned change process.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |56 pages
Multi-theoretical social work: basics
chapter 1|8 pages
Use theories for professional purposes
chapter 2|10 pages
Identify your theoretical orientation
chapter 3|12 pages
Cultivate an orientation affirming theoretical pluralism
chapter 4|10 pages
Use theories to guide helping processes in six ways
chapter 5|12 pages
Use a metatheory to guide selection of theoretical languages for helping
part |98 pages
Multi-theoretical social work and the planned change process
chapter 6|9 pages
Translate theories to guide the engagement process
chapter 7|9 pages
Translate theories to guide the informationgathering process
chapter 8|9 pages
Translate theories to guide informational question formation
chapter 9|15 pages
Translate theories to guide the assessment formulation process
chapter 10|8 pages
Translate theories to guide the goal setting process
chapter 11|12 pages
Translate theoretical frameworks to guide the specification of change theory and logic model
chapter 12|14 pages
Translate theories to guide the identification, selection, and implementation of interventions
chapter 13|10 pages
Translate theories to guide the evaluation process
chapter 14|7 pages
Translate theories to guide the ending process
part |42 pages
Multi-theoretical social work across the career
chapter 15|11 pages
Identify and remove barriers to multiple theory use across the career
chapter 16|7 pages
Participate in multi-theory reflecting teams
part |12 pages
Conclusion