Even Better Parents

Barbara Maines and George Robinson, Lucky Duck Publishing, 3 Thorndale Mews, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2HX, £55 for video, trainers' resource pack and manual.

A training resource aimed at encouraging parents who are willing to improve their parenting skills. It is not intended to offer remedial intervention for families experiencing severe relationship difficulties, but serves as a general course that is intended to be helpful to parents, and those who work with them. There is a trainers' resource pack, which includes the video transcript, a proposed course timetable, role play scenarios and an evaluation sheet.

Becoming a Trainer in Adult Abuse Work

Jacki Pritchard, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 116 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JB, £16.95

A training guide covering the setting up of abuse awareness courses through the various stages, looking at selecting a pool of trainers, developing them, evaluation and case studies. It provides guidance for those struggling through the discussions and planning, and points clearly to the need for sensitive and skilled group workers as trainers.

Crossing the Housing and Care Divide

Ailsa Cameron, Lyn Harrison, Paul Burton and Alex Marsh, The Policy Press, Marston Book Services, PO Box 269, Abingdon, Oxon. OX14 4YN, £10.95

An evaluation of a programme devised and run by the Anchor Trust and the Housing Corporation, which includes many guidance points that can be used by managers and staff who seek to successfully integrate social care and housing. It also succinctly lays out key elements in any strategy to make user involvement real and useful.