Why is social work so difficult and how to do it well

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL CARE IN COLLABORATION WITH WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, CHILDREN'S SOCIAL CARE

Donald Forrester, Professor of Child and Family Social Work at the University of Cardiff, where he is Director of the CASCADE Centre for Children’s Social Care

This session will introduce and explore the idea of rights focused practice. In doing so it tackles some big questions like: what is the point of social work? what is good practice? what difference does it make? and ... why is it so very difficult? Professor Forrester will outline different types of rights, place social work into a broader historical and political perspective and argue that social work is an essential profession for any good society. He will then consider the theories and practices we need to work with the tensions and conflicts at the heart of social work, and talk about the difference that social work makes for both those we work with and for society in general.

About Donald Forrester, Donald has researched extensively on the links between practice skills, outcomes for children and families and the organizational factors that influence practice quality. He is a leading researcher on social work communication skills, Motivational Interviewing in child and family work and what works in Children’s Services. His latest book The Enlightened Social Worker: An Introduction to Rights Focused Practice tries to understand why social work is so often full of tension and conflict and how we can best work with these challenges. It argues that practice informed by respect, love and wisdom is essential not only for those we work with but in creating a humane and civilised society - and the book tries to describe what such practice involves.

As Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families says of the book “Covering the 18th century to the current day, Forrester leads the reader on an essential intellectual journey towards defining the true purpose and value of the social work profession.”

The event will take place in the Mitre Lecture Theatre

PLEASE NOTE: Car parking is pay by phone Monday-Friday 8am-6pm £1.90 per hour. All other times £1.35 set fee.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University of Chichester, College Lane, Chichester, United Kingdom