Relationship Based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice

Relationship Based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice

Edited by Gillian Ruch, Danielle Turney and Adrian Ward

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

ISBN 9781849050036

£19.99

The first two sections of this book explain the theoretical underpinning of a relationship-based approach and provide examples of social workers working “with” and “in” different and often difficult relationships with service users.

Case studies are used skilfully by many of the book’s contributors and I would encourage all student social workers to read Gillian Ruch’s chapters, where her clear explanations demystify some of the most complex psychodynamic concepts.

I also found Martin Smith’s chapter, Working with Strong Feelings, more informative and helpful than the many articles about false compliance written since the Baby P inquiry.

The third section focuses on more systemic issues in relation to developing and sustaining a relation-based approach in practice and will probably be of most interest to practice educators, managers and academics.

Lynn Baxter is senior lecturer in social work at the University of Greenwich

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