Social work and multi-agency working by Kate Morris

Social work and multi-agency working: making a difference ★★★★★

Edited by Kate Morris, The Policy Press, ISBN 9781861349453 (paperback) ISBN 9781861349460 (hardcover)< P>

Another in the excellent “Making a difference” series, this book brings together an impressive group of researchers and practitioners to discuss the benefits and challenges of multi-agency collaboration.

Morris has ensured some consistency by having each chapter present a glossary of terms, and handy tables showing key pieces of legislation and policy, trigger questions and recommended future reading.

However, the various contributors bring different writing styles making some chapters more readable than others (see Galvani’s chapter “Working together responding to people with alcohol and drug problems”).

Overall, I felt the book fails to provide a detailed examination of the often frustrating, competitive, even combative nature of multi-agency work, and does not adequately tackle how workers can develop the tenacity and leadership qualities necessary to do it effectively.

Colette Eaton works at Blackburn College as a support manager for students with learning disabilities and mental health needs. She is also a practice assessor for social work students