Mastering Assessment in Child and Family Social Work

Assessment is the foundation of good quality social work practice. It is essential that practitioners know exactly how to carry out good assessments to ensure the effective safeguarding of children. This book is an accessible guide to mastering the essential skills of child and family assessment. Covering everything the busy practitioner needs to know, it addresses the need for social workers to be both reflective practitioners and critical thinkers and provides them with the tools and frameworks they need. Chapters cover what makes a good assessment, planning, collecting information, analysis and making judgements, review and outcomes, and assessing in different circumstances. Practice vignettes and exercises for the reader are included throughout the book. This will be an invaluable text for busy child and family social work practitioners who need a practical and easy-to-use guide to conducting assessments. This series of short, accessible books focuses on the everyday key skills that social workers need in order to practise effectively and ensure the best possible outcomes for service users. Easy to read and practical, the books feature chapter summaries, practice examples based on real-life situations, and exercises for the reader to enhance their learning. The books in this series are essential reading for post-qualifying social work students and social work practitioners.