Lee Quinney

Narrative in Social Work A Critical Review

We examine how the concept of narrative has entered social work over the past 15 years, with special emphasis on research applications. Approaching our task from distinctive standpoints and locations, the article reviews definitions of narrative, criteria for ‘good’ enough narrative research, and patterns in social work journals. Our evaluation uncovered few studies, in contrast to the volume of narrative research in education, nursing and other practicing professions. Three exemplars of narrative inquiry - model research completed by social workers - show the knowledge for practice that can be produced with careful application of narrative methods, in all their diversity. Drawing on our respective locations and experiences, we cautiously suggest some reasons for the paucity of quality research in the USA, and greater representation in Europe.

Facilitating Shared Online Group Learning between Carers, Service Users and Social Work Students

We report on our progress in developing a pilot online group teaching innovation with 14 participants, including five service users and carers, and nine social work students. Enhancing student learning by providing shared educational opportunities between students, service users, and carers can be a challenge to organise but the project demonstrates some success in doing so. The evaluation suggests that even the smallest level of service user and carer involvement can enhance student learning and personal development during social work education and training.

Returning to Social Work Practice: A Literature Review and Comparative Analysis Between Professions

Moves towards a more standardised, structured and transparent training experience for qualified social workers returning to practice is quite new. A review of the limited social work literature on this topic and its ensuing discussion with reference to other professions helps to locate key issues relating to the process of returning to practice after an organised career break or indeterminate period away from practice in the United Kingdom.

Making a Difference in Adult Social Care: Release your leadership ambitions

I think this could have been dealt with in more detail, especially in relation to systemic theory. For example, a more critical view of the definition of a ‘disorder’ would have been welcome. It appears that the author is more at home with psychoanalytic concepts, and as a result, fails to elaborate on the systemic concepts. From my position as a professional working in child protection, I read the chapter on ‘sexuality’ with great interest and find it very positive that this topic is dealt with in detail. It emphasises that the way professionals deal with children and adolescents’ basic needs is essential for their general development and future outcomes. I especially liked the discussion about the needs of children who have experienced sexual abuse. Guender stresses here, that challenging behaviour of children who have experienced abuse should not automatically be attributed to the abuse alone. He argues that this is a reductionist approach (‘sexualisierte Einschätzung der Betroffenen’, p. 347) which ignores their other needs. The liberalisation process in dealing with sexuality in general, which Guender attributes to the anti-authoritarian movement, is probably a little out-dated, and perhaps should have been revised in this later edition. Current trends are probably countering this, which seek to shake people out of their earlier complacency and reject medicalisation in their thinking about sexual health education. Overall this revised version delivers on its promises and continues to be a very important text in this area. Written in German, its appeal will probably be limited to German-speaking countries, and will obviously limit its readership. This is unfortunate, as it would be a helpful contribution to the debates in those countries, where residential care is often viewed negatively. The review was translated from the original German by Katja Nowacki and Graeme Simpson.

Community resilience in the wake of horrific social events

Purpose – Using a recent television series as a start point, this paper aims to explore risk management and the impact of serious offending on individuals and communities.Design/methodology/approach – Concepts like mad, bad, good, or evil are examined in the context of horrific social events and links to recent developments in government strategy aiming to strengthen and protect community resilience.Findings – It is shown how the nature of society and modern lifestyles can influence the resilience levels and the likelihood of individuals from all walks of life contributing towards community resilience.Social implications – Community resilience is positioned with the idea that society should not only support direct victims of horrific events, but also those indirectly affected in the same local community.Originality/value – The paper argues that the notion of community resilience provides a useful framework for thinking about how, in a risk‐averse society, community participation to promote wellbeing withi...

Dangerous people with a severe personality disorder: Diagnosis, risk assessment and services

Abstract This paper explores plans to develop mental health services in England and Wales, in particular, those for people regarded as high-risk or dangerous and severely personality disordered (DSPD). Diagnosis and legal issues are discussed to highlight who these people are, and to help explain the importance of developing new services. Also, practice issues relating to risk assessment and management are explored, whilst emphasising the beneficial contributions Mental Health Social Work can offer future services. Lastly, this paper demonstrates how little is understood about the ‘needs’ of DSPD people and suggests without further knowledge new services may be limited in their attempts to protect the public.