Social work degree recommended reading: updated for 2012

A list of some of the most crucial texts, recommended by lecturers and CareSpace users, as well as electronic resources and journals

By Simeon Brody on September 20, 2010 in Students

A list of some of the most crucial texts, recommended by lecturers and CareSpace users, as well as other electronic resources and journals is below.

Community Care Inform, our sister site, are also offering a special deal for students giving access to loads of expert-written social work practice information.

Social work books (updated with latest editions as of August 2012)

Law for Social Workers, 11th edition, 2010, Hugh Brayne & Helen Carr, Oxford University Press (or pre-order the 12th edition due December 2012)

Social Work Law, Alison Brammer, 3rd edition, 2009, Longman

Using the Law in Social Work (Transforming Social Work Practice), Robert Johns, 4th edition, 2009, Learning Matters

Social Work Practice: Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Review (Transforming Social Work Practice), Jonathan Parker & Greta Bradley, 3rd edition, 2009, Learning Matters

Reflective Practice in Social Work (Transforming Social Work Practice), eds Christine Knott & Terry Scragg, 2nd edition, 2010, Learning Matters

Understanding and Using Theory in Social Work, Juliette Oko, 1st edition, 2008, Learning Matters

More on the Learning Matters social work series

Practising Social Work: Meeting the Professional Challenge, Professor Neil Thompson, 2008, Palgrave Macmillan

Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice, Professor Neil Thompson, 3rd edition, 2009, Palgrave Macmillan

Practical social work: Anti-Discriminatory Practice – equality, diversity, and social justice. Professor Neil Thompson, 5th edition, 2012, Palgrave Macmillan

The Blackwell Companion to Social Work, ed Martin Davies, 3rd edition, 2007, Wiley-Blackwell

Social Work: An Introduction to Contemporary Practice, Wilson et al, 2nd edition, 2011, Longman

Ethics and Values in Social Work (British Association of Social Workers Practical Social Work Series), Sarah Banks, 4th edition, 2012, Palgrave Macmillan

Dictionary of Social Work: The Definitive A to Z of Social Work and Social Care, John Pierson & Martin Thomas, 2010, Open University Press

Modern Social Work Theory, Malcolm Payne, 3rd edition, 2005, Palgrave Macmillan

Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates, eds Robert Adams, Lena Dominelli and Malcolm Payne, 3rd edition, 2009, Palgrave Macmillan

Surviving Your Social Work Placement, Robert Lomax, Karen Jones, Sarah Leigh & Chris Gay, 2010, Palgrave Macmillan

Social Work Placements: A Traveller’s Guide, Mark Doel, 2009, Routledge

Child protection practice, Harry Ferguson, 2011, Palgrave MacMillan

New title additions for 2012:

The pursuit of permanence: a study of the English care system, Sinclair et.al, 2007, Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Social Work Skills and Knowledge: A Practice Handbook, Pamela Trevithick, 3rd edition, 2012, Open Unviersity Press

An Introduction to Applying Social Work Theories and Methods, Barbara Teater, 2010, Open University Press

Social Work with Adults, Professor Martin Davies, 2012, Palgrave Macmillan

Social Work with Children and Families, 2012, Palgrave Macmillan

Books reviewed by Community Care

It is also worth checking out this book list compiled by social care professional Andrew Ellery