Modern Social Work Theory

Description

This masterly text is a classic in its field and will be a reliable companion throughout the course of your studies and your career as a social work practitioner. In this substantially reworked and updated fourth edition of his best-selling text, Malcolm Payne presents clear and concise evaluations of the pros and cons of major theories that inform social work practice, and comparisons between them. Modern Social Work Theory is now more accessible and comprehensive than ever, offering: • the most complete coverage of social work theory, from classic perspectives to the very latest ideas, including a new chapter dedicated to strengths, narrative and solutions approaches • a host of brand new case examples showing how theories can be applied to everyday practice • new analysis of the ethical dimensions of different social work theories and what common values they share • 'Pause and Reflect' questions to encourage you to draw on your own experience and develop your thinking • updated 'Example text' sections which summarise the most current thinking and help bridge the gap between introductions to each theory and more specialist writing. Cover Contents List of figures Preface to the fourth edition About the author A note on terminology Part 1 Thinking about social work theory 1 The social construction of social work theory Main contribution Main points Theory and knowledge in social work practice Case example: Using induction and deduction when working with dying people Theory and practice in social work Pause and reflect Summarizing the claims for theory Pause and reflect: A case example Using practice theory in working with a bereaved son Case example: A client's pathway to the service contributes to a shared construction of social work practice Case example: A drug user's life Case example: Domestic violence Case example: Mental illness Arenas of social work construction Conclusion: using ideas about social work theory Additional resources 2 Evaluating social work theory Main contribution Main points Major statements The main groups of practice theory Reviews of practice theory Pause and reflect Choosing theories as useful in your studies and practice Using theory selectively and eclectically Pause and reflect How to use selection and eclectic practice Case example: Selecting from theories to develop an eclectic agency practice Theory in different forms of social work: group, macro, residential care and family therapy practice Using evidence to support practice theory Case example: Shouting at the children Case example: CBT in residential care Conclusion: how social workers can evaluate social work theory Additional resources 3 Connecting theory and practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements Why do we use theory in a practical activity? Example the theory of making tea Pause and reflect how might generalizations help us? Pause and reflect how are theory and practice different? Practice approaches to using theory Case example: Maintaining coherence while using different theoretical models at different stages Case example: Carrie's fear of crying focuses her use of self Pause and reflect Repressing or expressing your emotions in practice Example Knowledge and prevention in child welfare services Case example: Chinese and Western views of mental illness Case example: Hayley's 'crisis' questions led Soumen to defend his family's 'moral adequacy' Example Reflexivity may be seen as rotating practitioners' models of the situation they are working with Case example: Henry's death and his marriage Case example: Josie discusses theory openly with her clients Conclusion: using theory–practice ideas Additional resources Part 2 Reviewing social work theories 4 Psychodynamic practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Case example: Julia's social work career Wider theoretical perspectives Pause and reflect Psychoanalytic ideas with cultural influence on social work Case example: David's unconscious feelings about his mother Case example: Dealing with david's anger Connections The politics of psychodynamic theory Values issues Applications Pause and reflect Looking at underlying factors in behaviour Example text: Brandell (2004) on psychodynamic social work Case example: Should diana get her children back? Case example: Gillian's use of emotion in managing the relationship with her family Case example: A single parent makes a new start Example text: Shemmings and Shemmings (2011) on attachment theory Case example: Two single mothers' approaches to their daughters Case example: Mentalizing about removing a child from the mother's care Conclusion: using psychodynamic theory Additional resources 5 Crisis and task-centred practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Wider theoretical perspectives Connections The politics of crisis intervention and task-centred practice Case example: Peter's father's divorce Values issues Applications Example text: Thompson (2011a) on crisis intervention Case example: Haroun Singh experiences his wife's death Pause and reflect Jeanne debates whether to report a rape Case example: Jeanne's dilemma Example text: Marsh and Doel (2005) on task-centred practice Case example: Multiple definition of problems – Joan's job Case example: Exploring Ethan's drug problems Conclusion: using crisis and task-centred theory Additional resources 6 Cognitive-behavioural practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Pause and reflect Fabia's life objectives Case example: CBT to help Fabia Wider theoretical perspectives Connections The politics of CBT theory Values issues Applications Case example: Getting muddy at the park Case example: Feliks and the park again Case example: Extinction process Case example: Counter conditioning in enuresis Case example: The threat of unemployment Example The neuroscientific basis of drug abuse Case example: Mrs Folwell's arthritis Example text: Dobson and Dobson (2009) on CBT Case example: Fred's anxiety Case example: Faisal's social activities Pause and reflect Freda's school-related anxiety Case example: Freda's story Conclusion: using CBT Additional resources 7 Systems and ecological practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Case example: Pete, a hyperactive child in the Marsalis family Pause and reflect Selecting levels and focuses Wider theoretical perspectives Connections The politics of systems theory Values issues Applications Case example: Seeing practice in systems terms Case example: Involvement with different aspects of a family's needs Case example: Context defines responsibilities with a disabled person Example text: Gitterman and Germain's (2008) life model of social work Case example: Tyler's drug abuse and Mrs Garrod's housing Conclusion: using systems and ecological theory Additional resources 8 Macro practice, social development and social pedagogy Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Wider theoretical perspectives Case example: The social pedagogy pilot programme in UK children's residential care Case example: Kevin, a hyperactive child Connections The politics of social and community development Values issues Case example: A volunteering scheme for a housing project Applications Pause and reflect Communities and shared interests Example text: Burghardt's (2011) macro practice Case example: Saving the settlement Case example: Reviving the settlement Example text: Midgley's (1995, 2010a) social development Conclusion: using macro, social development and social pedagogy ideas Additional resources 9 Strengths, narrative and solution practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Case example: Solution-focused questioning in child safeguarding Case example: Putting the forms aside to get the story and find the strengths Wider theoretical perspectives Pause and reflect Criticizing social psychology's contribution to social work Case example: Grace caring for her mother Pause and reflect Underlying claims of constructions about social problems Case example: Claims about divorce Case example: Talking to children about death Connections The politics of narrative, solution and strengths practice Values issues Case example: A disabled man's allowance is withdrawn Applications Example text: Greene and Lee (2011) on solution-oriented practice Case example: Approaching a child safeguarding visit with a mother Conclusion: using strengths, narrative and solution ideas Additional resources 10 Humanistic practice, existentialism and spirituality Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Wider theoretical perspectives Connections The politics of humanistic and related ideas Values issues Applications Case example: Jabari's unemployment Example text: Glassman's (2009) humanistic group work Example text: Holloway and Moss (2010) on spirituality and social work Conclusion: using humanistic social work Additional resources 11 Empowerment and advocacy Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Wider theoretical perspectives Connections Pause and reflect Celia's care decisions Case example: Should Celia's social worker advocate on her behalf? The politics of empowerment and advocacy Values issues Applications Case example: Moving into a mental health hostel Example text: Lee's (2001) empowerment approach Example text: Hoefer's (2012) advocacy for social justice Case example: Choosing a new team leader Pause and reflect think about who loses and gains by examining an 'understanding the issue' statement Pause and reflect Potential advocacy approaches Conclusion: using empowerment and advocacy theory Additional resources 12 Critical practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Case example: The housing project for mentally ill people Wider theoretical perspectives Connections The politics of critical theory Values issues Applications Case example: How praxis works Example text: Mullaly's (2007) 'new' structural social work Pause and reflect Your examples of oppression myths Case example: The disability and youth groups in a community centre Pause and reflect Examples of oppression Pause and reflect Structural challenge in your agency Example text: Fook's (2012) critical practice Conclusion: using critical social work Additional resources 13 Feminist practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Wider theoretical perspectives Connections Case example: Money and power in a family relationship Case example: The man who 'tapped' his wife The politics of feminist social work Values issues Case example: Dealing with all the issues in an assessment Pause and reflect Mr Jones's attitudes Case example: Hilda, Mr Jones, gratitude and caring labour Applications Example text: V. White's (2006) 'the state of feminist social work' Case example: Feminist woman-centred practice with an older man and woman Pause and reflect is Alice and Karina's work a 'feminist conspiracy'? Conclusion: using feminist theory in practice Additional resources 14 Anti-oppressive and multicultural sensitivity approaches to practice Main contribution Main points Practice ideas Major statements The debate summary Case example: Confusion about the nature of Nia's disability Pause and reflect Thinking about issues of culture and oppression Case example: Gang fights in the social housing scheme Case example: Celebrating cultural diversity in residential care Wider theoretical perspectives Pause and reflect Your life experience Connections The politics of anti-oppression and sensitivity Values issues Applications Example text: Dalrymple and Burke (2006) on anti-oppressive practice Example text: Sisneros et al. (2008) on critical multicultural social work Case example: Selma's life develops from profound deafness Pause and reflect Using the web of intersecting identities Conclusion: using anti-oppressive and multicultural sensitivity approaches Additional resources Bibliography Author index Subject index