Complexity in Social Work
Rick Hood
- Kingston University, UK
Purchase
Paperback
ISBN:
9781473993815
Available from
January 0001
Description
Complexity lies at the heart of social work practice and this book is designed to help students and newly-qualified social workers plan for and manage complex cases in an increasingly complex environment. Split into two parts, this book reflects the journey of qualifying social work students from preparation for practice in an educational context to learning ‘on the job’ through working with service users in practice settings, and eventually assuming a more senior role in management, administration and training. Key topics covered in the chapters include managing volatility and uncertainty, making judgements and decisions, building and maintaining relationships, using reflection and supervision, working interprofessionally, managing risk, exploring cause and effect.
Contents
Introduction: What is complexity?
Introduction: What is complexity?
PART ONE: WORKING WITH COMPLEX CASES
- Chapter 1: Understanding complex needs
- Chapter 2: Managing uncertainty, volatility and drift
- Chapter 3 : Making decisions and judgements
- Chapter 4 : Building and maintaining relationships
- Chapter 5: Reflecting on practice
- Chapter 6 : Working interprofessionally
PART TWO: ENGAGING WITH COMPLEX SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7: Addressing complexity in research and evaluation
- Chapter 8 : Organising services to manage complexity
- Chapter 9: Developing policies for social problems
- Conclusion: Final reflections
Additional materials
Description
Complexity lies at the heart of social work practice and this book is designed to help students and newly-qualified social workers plan for and manage complex cases in an increasingly complex environment. Split into two parts, this book reflects the journey of qualifying social work students from preparation for practice in an educational context to learning ‘on the job’ through working with service users in practice settings, and eventually assuming a more senior role in management, administration and training. Key topics covered in the chapters include managing volatility and uncertainty, making judgements and decisions, building and maintaining relationships, using reflection and supervision, working interprofessionally, managing risk, exploring cause and effect.
Contents
Introduction: What is complexity?
Introduction: What is complexity?
PART ONE: WORKING WITH COMPLEX CASES
- Chapter 1: Understanding complex needs
- Chapter 2: Managing uncertainty, volatility and drift
- Chapter 3 : Making decisions and judgements
- Chapter 4 : Building and maintaining relationships
- Chapter 5: Reflecting on practice
- Chapter 6 : Working interprofessionally
PART TWO: ENGAGING WITH COMPLEX SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7: Addressing complexity in research and evaluation
- Chapter 8 : Organising services to manage complexity
- Chapter 9: Developing policies for social problems
- Conclusion: Final reflections
Additional materials
Reviews
February 2018 | 240 pages | Sage UK
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 31/03/2026 | 9781473993815 | $88.00 |
| Hardcover | 31/03/2026 | 9781473993808 | $173.00 |
Complexity lies at the heart of social work practice and this book is designed to help students and newly-qualified social workers plan for and manage complex cases in an increasingly complex environment. Split into two parts, this book reflects the journey of qualifying social work students from preparation for practice in an educational context to learning ‘on the job’ through working with service users in practice settings, and eventually assuming a more senior role in management, administration and training. Key topics covered in the chapters include managing volatility and uncertainty, making judgements and decisions, building and maintaining relationships, using reflection and supervision, working interprofessionally, managing risk, exploring cause and effect.
Table Of Contents:
- Introduction: What is complexity?
- PART ONE: WORKING WITH COMPLEX CASES
- Chapter 1: Understanding complex needs
- Chapter 2: Managing uncertainty, volatility and drift
- Chapter 3 : Making decisions and judgements
- Chapter 4 : Building and maintaining relationships
- Chapter 5: Reflecting on practice
- Chapter 6 : Working interprofessionally
- PART TWO: ENGAGING WITH COMPLEX SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7: Addressing complexity in research and evaluation
- Chapter 8 : Organising services to manage complexity
- Chapter 9: Developing policies for social problems
- Conclusion: Final reflections
Recent Product Reviews:
Dr Rick Hood is one of the new generation of social work's intellectual leaders. This book is insightful but accessible and is informed by his substantial practice and research experience. The book highlights the day-to-day experience for social workers of being immersed in, but not paralysed by, the complexity of human behaviour and relationships and of the important and crucial contribution social workers make with others in promoting the welfare and safety of children and helping families.
Ray Jones, Emeritus Professor, Kingston & St George's
Rick Hood has produced a remarkably clear and conceptually sophisticated account of complexity in social work making a strong case for more appropriate organisational systems for working with unpredictability.
Sue White, Professor of Social Work, University of Sheffield
This book provides good coverage on aspects of complexity in social work. It encompasses several features that generate complexity and decision making in social work. This book’s approach makes various landscapes of complexity easy to understand. This makes the book accessible to students and practitioners.
Dr Tam Chipawe Cane, Programme Leader for Social Work Programmes, University of Greenwich
An impressive scrutiny of key challenges in social work through the lens of complexity, producing fresh thinking about solutions. The use of case studies and exercises links the abstract ideas clearly to the reality of everyday social work.
Eileen Munro, Professor of Social Policy, LSE