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By Caroline Currer.
Palgrave
£14.50
ISBN 0 333 73639

Caroline Currer offers a timely and convincing argument that responding to death and bereavement is a necessary activity of all those in social care, who should be more confident in their role. She writes: "Care of those who are dying is predominantly a community affair."

The book has a strong academic bias with definitions, statistics and a comprehensive overview of research, including personal accounts. Theoretical models for understanding the process of dying and bereavement are presented, discussed and related to practice, with examples from all aspects of mainstream social care.

Currer demonstrates a realistic recognition of where social care currently stands: the constraints of time and resources, and tensions at the interface with health care.

In presenting core aspects of involvement with people facing death and bereavement, she offers a challenge. Listening, helping people to manage the present, maintaining connectedness, and acting as facilitators are well within the role of social workers and need not be arduous or time-consuming. But training, support, supervision and a commitment to working closely with health colleagues are essential.

Pat Mood is social worker at the East Cheshire Hospice and author of a workbook for bereaved children.