Social work and empowerment / Robert Adams.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Adams, Robert, 1944-

Series:

Practical social work

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social service--Great Britain.

Social service.

Self-help groups.

Great Britain.

Social service--Great Britain--Citizen participation.

Political participation.

Self-help groups--Great Britain.

Physical Description:

xvi, 214 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hamspire ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.

Summary:

Social Work and Empowerment offers a succinct and clear account of the literature on empowerment and a thorough examination of its relevance to social work. It argues that empowerment is not just a method or a new perspective, but the paradigm which replaces the paradigm of client treatment which formerly dominated social work. This clear and stimulating introductory text offers an overview of the challenges and opportunities posed by the empowerment paradigm. The accessible balance of theory, approach and practice makes it an essential tool for anyone interested in, or already practising, social work.

Contents:

Part I Theories, Models and Methods for Empowering Practice 1

1 Ingredients of Empowerment 3

Empowerment: an essentially contested concept in social work 13

Some risks associated with empowerment 15

Roots of empowerment lie partly in self-help 18

The traditions of self-help and mutual aid 20

Values of self-help 22

International developments 25

2 Frameworks for Empowerment 28

Theories and models 28

Problems of power and empowerment 32

Treatment and empowerment paradigms in social work 34

Different ways of linking empowerment with practice development 37

Framework for empowerment-in-practice 40

Part II Practising Empowerment 45

Concept of self-empowerment 48

Activating self-empowerment 49

Assessment and planning 50

Action 52

Reflection 54

Implications for practice 55

4 Empowering Individuals 59

Empowering work with individuals 60

Process of empowering individuals 65

Implications for practice 69

5 What are Empowering Groups? 77

Realism about what groups can achieve 77

Relationships between social workers and self-help/user-led groups 80

Some common features of self-help and user-led groups 83

Functions of self-help and user-led groups 84

Scope of self-help and user-led groups 86

6 Working with and within Empowering Groups 96

Processes of group-based empowerment 96

Beginnings 99

Maintaining groups 103

Endings 114

7 Empowering Communities and Organisations 117

Contexts 117

Empowering organisations 119

Empowering communities 130

8 Empowering Evaluation 136

Avoiding shortcomings of much evaluation 136

Empowering evaluation rather than traditional experimental method 138

Clarifying the task 138

Preparing for the appraisal 142

Carrying out the appraisal 151

Producing and using the appraisal 152

Evaluating the appraisal 155

Part III Issues for Social Work 159

9 Practitioners and People Using Services: Empowering Relationships? 161

Cautions 162

Empowering relationships between people using services and social workers 173

10 Empowering Social Work 182

Principles 182

Key debates 183

Values 187

Policies 191.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 198-208) and index.

ISBN:

1403905517

OCLC:

50725169