Since the inception of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, mental health law, policy, practice and ethos have changed dramatically in Scotland. This book provides a thorough grounding in the key issues in mental health and presents a clear picture of the current Scottish mental health scene. By highlighting the skills and values that are necessary for contemporary practice, it helps students to develop their knowledge and understanding to enable them to deliver an appropriate and responsive service for people facing mental health challenges.

Since the inception of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, mental health law, policy, practice and ethos have changed dramatically in Scotland. This book provides a thorough grounding in the key issues in mental health and presents a clear picture of the current Scottish mental health scene. By highlighting the skills and values that are necessary for contemporary practice, it helps students to develop their knowledge and understanding to enable them to deliver an appropriate and responsive service for people facing mental health challenges.

Scotland has changed, politically and culturally, in recent years, with persistent demands for independence culminating in a referendum in 2014. On this fluid political landscape, social welfare can be co-opted towards a wider ‘nation-building’ project. As a result, social work in Scotland is increasingly divergent from the rest of the UK. This book offers a comprehensive, critical and timely account of the profession in these changing times, charting its historical development, current practice and future directions. Bringing together a range of academic and practice experts, it considers social work as it is currently but also as it might be. Divided into three parts, the first part sets a context, identifying historical, philosophical, policy and legal influences on current practice. The second part picks up on current themes in policy and practice, addressing key issues of professional identity in an increasingly integrated policy context. The final part contains chapters on current domains of practice, identifying key areas of legislation, policy and practice. Social Work in a Changing Scotland is essential reading for social work students, offering an accessible yet critical overview of the profession. It will also inform current practitioners to understand better the changing contexts within which they practise, while prompting further academic debate about Scottish social work.

Social Work in Mental Health brings together a range of scholarly reflections and writings on the different roles of a social worker in the field of mental health. It provides a holistic picture to introduce readers to the wider issues of social work and mental health practice. Contexts and Theories for Practice begins with an exploration of the context of social work practice. It offers opportunities to consider global perspectives on mental health, as well as relevant historical, contemporary and emerging trends and ideologies from around the world. The book provides a detailed discussion on the theoretical and practice frameworks that are based on social justice and human rights perspectives. It not only provides an overview of intervention strategies but also directs readers’ attention to an alternative way of addressing mental health issues. The author presents a cross-cultural and global perspective of mental health, but with specific references to India and Asia. He also addresses some of the recent debates in recovery, partnerships and strengths-based practices. The book has been specially designed for social work students, human service professionals and mental health practitioners and academicians.

This innovative text offers comprehensive coverage of the discipline of social policy and its central relevance to social work, social care and related practice in Scotland. Designed to complement teaching and study associated with the new Honours degree in Social Work (Scottish Executive 2003), it fills a notable gap in the literature on this subject and will be essential reading for students, professionals and academics within a variety of health and social care occupations.

Social Work and Mental Health offers a fresh approach to addressing mental health issues, emphasizing the relevance of mental health for all social workers, not just those in specialist mental health settings. The book engages critically with the complexities of contemporary theory, policy and practice, recognizing developments in user and carer involvement and interprofessional working. Key chapters focus on inequality and diversity, drawing attention to the social determinants of health and the important contribution of social work in promoting social perspectives. Practice issues include the mental health of children, young people and families, and older people. Promoting rights, recovery and social justice - and balancing these with considerations of risk - are core themes running through the text. The book contains a number of examples and points for reflection intended to encourage critical thinking and further exploration of the issues. Suggestions for additional reading and resources are offered at the end of each chapter. Overall the book provides a valuable framework for understanding and responding to mental health issues that will be useful for social work students and practitioners as well as a wider audience.

Since devolution in 1999, social policy within Scotland has burgeoned. The Scottish Parliament has a range of powers in relation to key policy areas including social work, education, health, child care, child protection, law and home affairs, and housing. These powers and the existence of a distinct legal tradition in Scotland means that social work practice has developed a distinctive style, attuned to the particular needs of Scotland. Scottish distinctiveness however, has rarely been properly represented in textbooks on either social policy or social work. This innovative text offers comprehensive coverage of the discipline of social policy and its central relevance to social work, social care and related practice in Scotland. Designed to complement teaching and study associated with the new Honours degree in Social Work (Scottish Executive 2003), it fills a notable gap in the literature on this subject and will be essential reading for students, professionals and academics within a variety of health and social care occupations.

Social workers and other professionals working in the area of mental health often face complex and difficult practice dilemmas shaped by increasingly demanding policy and legal contexts across the UK. Jim Campbell and Gavin Davidson focus on the post-qualifying role played by mental health social workers in this book. The authors draw on theoretical and research perspectives on the subject, before outlining how professionals can achieve best practice. Topics covered include: " Models of mental health and illness " Discrimination and social exclusion " Addressing service user needs " Carer perspectives " Working with individuals, families and communities The chapters are accompanied by exercises, which encourage readers to critically reflect on their own professional and personal experiences. Case studies are also included, so that students can reappraise the knowledge they have learned in the text. The book will be essential reading for social work practitioners taking postgraduate courses in mental health and for those training to become Approved Mental Health Professionals.

This revised second edition analyses social policy in Scotland since devolution in 1999 and reflects the nascent and distinctively Scottish policy agenda. Along with updated chapters, there are two new inclusions: a chapter analysing post-devolution Scotland and a chapter on the likely impacts of Brexit on and within Scotland. Providing diagrams, tables and a range of activities, the book maintains an innovative and pedagogic emphasis to introduce students to a wealth of materials, ideas and practical responses to the increasingly complex and diverse situations faced by social workers and other professionals. Part 1 of the book looks at what social policy is, how and why it is made and highlights the importance of the relationship between social policy and the law. Part 2 refers to specific themes of social exclusion, poverty and (more visible for this revised edition) austerity, considering their complex and multidimensional forms and discussing the range of policies currently extant that aim to combat such disadvantage. Part 3 provides a comprehensive overview of policy for practice, considering concepts of health inequality, mental health, older people, disability, children and families, education, substance use, criminal justice, asylum and immigration and homelessness. This book will be of interest to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as post-qualified professionals seeking to understand the complexities of the social policy landscape in Scotland, and its influence on social work and related forms of professional practice.

Effective social work practice relies on good understanding of the law along with the skills to use this knowledge well. This essential book provides a wide-ranging thematic account of social work practice in Scotland, making critical links between concepts, the contexts of practice and first-hand experiences of Scottish social work law. The book covers important subjects such as: - Service user and carer rights - Legal and social work values - Accountability - Effective assessment - Safeguarding, risk and protection - Youth and adult criminal justice - Partnership, participation and advocacy - Delivery of personalised services Social Work and the Law in Scotland is core reading for all those undertaking academic study or professional practice within the field. It is also a key resource for anyone looking to update their knowledge on the nature and development of the ever-evolving legislative landscape of Scotland. New to this Edition: - Fully updated to incorporate changes to Scottish law impacting on groups of people who are at risk and personal and community care - Combines fully updated chapters by some of the original authors with newly commissioned pieces - Reflects the pace of change in the law since the previous edition