What do social workers need to know in order to practise skilfully and effectively? Edited by three Social Work’s leading scholars, the second edition of this highly respected textbook helps bridge the gap between social work theory and the challenges of day-to-day practice.

Introduction; R.Adams, L.Dominelli& M.Payne
On Being Critical in Social Work; R.Adams, L.Dominelli& M.Payne
PART 1: VALUES INTO PRACTICE
Values in Social Work; L.Dominelli
Professional Values and Accountabilities; S.Banks
Identity, Individual Rights and Social Justice; C.Clark
Pushing Ethical Boundaries for Children and Families; L.Briskman
Parental and Reproductive Rights; L.Dominelli
Ethical Tensions in Social Work: Consent in Later Life; R.Adams& M.Payne
PART 2: THEORIES FOR PRACTICE
Critical Reflection and Social Work Theories; M.Payne
Counselling; H.Cosis Brown
Groupwork; D.Ward
Community Work; M.Mayo
Psychosocial Work: An Attachment Perspective; D.Howe
Cross Cultural and Black Perspectives through the Life Course; L.Robinson
Cognitive-behavioural Practice; K.Cigno
Task-centred work; M.Doel
Advocacy and Empowerment; R.Adams
From Radical to Critical Social Work; B.Pease
Feminist Social Work; J.Orme updated by R.Adams, L.Dominelli& M.Payne
Anti-oppressive Approaches; B.Burke& P.Harrison
Postmodern and Constructionist Approaches to Social Work; N.Parton
PART 3: DEVELOPING CRITICAL PRACTICE
Being a Critical Practitioner; R.Adams
Safeguarding Children; J.Pinkerton
Fostering and Adoption; H.Cosis Brown
Working with Looked after Children and Young People in Residential Care; A.Roy, F.Young& C.Chahal
Family-based Social Work; K.Morris
Youth Justice and Young Offenders; K.Haines
Safeguarding Adults; H.Brown
Care Management; M.Holloway
Mental Health; D.Bailey
Physical Disability; B.Sapey
Learning Disability; T.Stainton
Older People; C.Beech& M.Ray
End of Life Care and Bereavement; C.Currer
Concluding Comment; R.Adams, L.Dominelli& M.Payne.

What do social workers need to know in order to practise skilfully and effectively? The second edition of this highly respected text gives you the understanding to bridge the gap between social work theory and the challenges of day-to-day practice.

Critical Practice in Social Work is different from every other text for several reasons:
- Its unique combination of theory, values and practice
- The wealth of expertise its contributors bring to their subject
- The way the themes of critical practice and reflective practice are used to show how theories can be applied meaningfully
- The number of methods covered, in an 'easy reference' structure
- Its in-depth look at an unrivalled spectrum of professional situations, illustrated by rich case material
- Its systematic discussion of professional ethics and values, both as general principles for practice and as practical tools.

The book's simultaneous accessibility and depth make it suited for study at both qualifying and post-qualifying level. Conveying the versatility and thoughtfulness required to do social work well, it is an essential purchase for every aspiring and practising social worker's bookshelf. It is one of three interrelated books edited by the internationally renowned and widely published team, Robert Adams, Lena Dominelli and Malcolm Payne. The companion books are Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates (third edition) and Practising Social Work in a Complex World. Each book can be used alone or in combination with the other two as a uniquely flexible and comprehensive programme of study.

Praise for this edition: 'An excellent update to this thought provoking text.' -Liam Foster, Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, UK Praise for the first edition 'Excellent...on the relationship between values and social work, Chris Clark's elegant chapter on rights, justice and citizenship [is] especially well argued.' -Prof. Martin Davies, THES