Introducing Social Work

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Parker of the Health Sciences University, UK, is Professor Emeritus at Bournemouth University, Professor Emeritus at the University of Stavanger, Norway, Visiting Professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Doctoral programme team member at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. He was one of the founders and director of the Family Assessment and Support Unit, a placement agency attached to the University of Hull and Head of the Department of Social Work.  He was Chair of the Association of Teachers in Social Work Education until 2005, Vice Chair of the UK higher education representative body, the Joint University Council for Social Work Education from 2005- 2010, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He has published widely (over 200 scholarly papers and chapters and 43 books): on disadvantage, marginalisation and violence, Southeast Asia, social work and welfare education internationally. He is author of the best-selling book Social Work Practice (Sage, 2025) and series editor for the highly successful Transforming Social Work Practice series (Sage).

Part I: Social Work Theory and Methods
Chapter 1: The history and context of contemporary social work (including global social work) - Jo Finch & Jonathan Parker
Chapter 2: Social work values and ethics - Steven Shardlow
Chapter 3: Theories and methods of social work practice - Barbra Teater
Chapter 4: Social work and the law - Robert Johns
Chapter 5: Human growth and development in social work - Janet Walker
Chapter 6: The social work process: assessment, planning, intervention and review - Jonathan Parker
Part II: Social Work Skills
Chapter 7: Anti-oppressive practice skills - Prospera Tedam
Chapter 8: Writing skills for social workers - Lucy Rai
Chapter 9: Critical thinking and reflective practice - Jo Rawles
Chapter 10: Communication and interpersonal skills - Juliet Koprowska
Chapter 11: Courtroom skills for social workers - Allan Norman
Chapter 12: Group work skills - Timothy B. Kelly
Chapter 13: Leadership and management skills in social work - Trish Hafford-Letchfield
Chapter 14: Using research in social work - Brian J. Taylor
Chapter 15: Looking after yourself as a social worker - Jo Finch
Chapter 16: Creative skills for social workers - Jonathan Parker
Part III: Social Work Interventions in Practice
Chapter 17: Social work and safeguarding children - Nancy Kelly
Chapter 18: Social work with children and young people in need - Melanie Watts & Nick Frost
Chapter 19: Working with unaccompanied refugee minors - Deborah Hadwin, Helen Guizani & Gurnam Singh
Chapter 20: Social work and youth justice - Roger Smith & Sean Creaney
Chapter 21: Social work and mental health (children, young people and adults) - Toby Brandon, Carole Southall & Steve O′Driscoll
Chapter 22: Social work with disabled children, young people and adults - Sally Lee
Chapter 23: Social work and learning disability/difficulties (children, young people and adults) - Emma Evans & Sally Lee
Chapter 24: Social work practice: fostering and adoption - Lucille Allain & Siobhan O′Farrell-Pearce
Chapter 25: Social work with refugees and asylum seekers - Kim Robinson
Chapter 26: Social work and substance use - Orlanda Harvery
Chapter 27: Social work with older people - Ann Anka
Chapter 28: Social work at the end of life: death, dying, bereavement and loss - Sue Taplin
Chapter 29: Working with communities - Keith Popple