As a social worker, you could work in a variety of different organisations, each with their own purpose, culture and structure. Understanding and examining the complex issues involved in the management and organisational context of social work practice is crucial for practitioners and managers.

This book helps you to develop strategies for ethical, reflective and relational practice, covers key themes including leadership, supervision, risk and decision making and emphasises the importance of active participation for positive change. Thoroughly updated, and with new Practice Examples demonstrating the relationship between theory and practice, this is essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of social work, as well as practising social workers. 

Dr Mark Hughes is Professor of Social Work in the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia. He has worked as a social worker in health, aged care and mental health settings in both Australia and the UK. He has also worked as a social work academic at the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales, and Goldsmiths College  London. Mark’s research interests centre on organisational practice, social work with older people, and lesbian and gay ageing. Mark is co-author of six books, as well as a range of journal publications. Dr Michael Wearing is a Senior Lecturer in the Social Work Program, The School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. He teaches in a range of areas of theory, policy and practice in social work and criminology notably on organisational practice, human and health service delivery and working in youth justice and related areas. He trained as a social worker and sociologist at UNSW and maintains a strong research and publishing career in social policy and applied sociology in Australia and internationally.