Critical Analysis Skills for Social Workers

Analysis is a critical skill for social workers, yet it is a skill that many practitioners find very difficult. This book will help social workers to improve their analysis skills by offering a very basic, step-by-step model to develop an analytical mindset. It shows how analysis can be woven into the whole process of social work engagement, resulting in better decision making, more efficient ways of working and, ultimately, better outcomes for social work service users.§The chapters include:§Tools for developing a critical mindset§Extended case studies§Practice dilemmas§Research summaries§Exercises§Reflection points§Topics covered include:§What analysis is, and why it is such an important skill in practice§The skills that underpin critical analysis, e.g. time management, planning, critical understanding, logical thinking, research-mindedness, creativity, communication, reflection and hypothesising§The role of emotion and intuition in critical analysis§Models to aid critical analysis§The importance of supervision, and the idea that good analysis does not happen when social workers try to do it on their own§Written for all social workers, regardless of their area of practice, this invaluable resource will be used by students at the outset of their training, and while on placement. It is also a must-have purchase for practitioners involved in continuing professional development, supervision and training.