Law for Social Workers, 12th Edition

• Written by an experienced lecturer and author, with contributions from a qualified social worker, this book provides the perfect combination of legal explanation and practical insight
• Includes a new section, 'The Social Worker's Toolkit', providing quick-reference advice and practical tips to assist you on placements and in your career as a professional social worker
• Features accessible discussion of recent, real-life cases, illustrating how the law works in practice and preparing you for the everyday situations you are likely to face when dealing with the service user
• Provides a clear and accurate account of the law in an easy-to-use and concise format which can be relied upon throughout all stages of your degree and in the workplace
• Covers the key topics relating to adult and child law as well as detail on the legal system, human rights, information sharing, and consent, making it the ideal companion text for all social work law modules
• Includes end of chapter exercises with online guidance, further reading advice, and chapter summaries to ensure understanding and assist with further research and assessment preparation
• Accompanied by a free Online Resource Centre which features relevant updates to the law, guidance on answering questions in the book, a glossary of key terms, and further reading advice and support. For lecturers, the website also features powerpoint slides and podcasts for use in your lectures plus discussion notes and a customizable bank of questions for student testing

New to this edition

• Includes new section, 'The Social Worker's Toolkit', offering practical tips on topics such as going to court, preparing evidence, and working with lawyers, helping to prepare you for practice placements and your future career
• Incorporates the Professional Capabilities Framework
• Features discussion of the Family Justice Review and Munro Review of Child Protection
• Includes the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and the Law Commission proposals on Adult Social Care
• Incorporates the Supreme Court decisions in R (on the application of McDonald) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and R on the Application of KM (By His Mother and Litigation Friend JM) v Cambridgeshire County Council
• Includes coverage of 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' and 'Fair Access to Care Services', plus discussion of the 2012 guidance, 'Managing Individual Cases'

Law for Social Workers has been supporting social work students and professionals for over 20 years. The ideal book to see you through both your course and career, the new edition features contributions from a practising social worker and provides the perfect balance of accessible explanation and practical insight. 

The new edition continues to provide an accurate, jargon-free account of the law social workers need to know, with helpful diagrams and case studies included throughout to explain areas of difficulty and ensure understanding for students and professionals at all levels.

A new section, 'The Social Worker's Toolkit', offers practical advice on topics such as going to court, preparing evidence, and writing reports, as well as a quick-reference guide to key topics, and provides the ideal support while on placement or in the workplace. 

The book is also accompanied by a fully interactive Online Resource Centre featuring updates on recent cases and changes to legislation, guidance on answering exercises in the book, a glossary explaining essential legal terminology, and further reading guidance. For lecturers, resources include video podcasts, powerpoint slides, and discussion notes, plus a test bank of over 200 multiple choice questions for class-testing.

With its comprehensive coverage and practical focus, Law for Social Workers will be an invaluable guide throughout your degree and as you enter the workplace, equipping you with the essential legal knowledge to give you confidence to practice.

Readership: Students undertaking a degree in social work or studying a related programme at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This book is also likely to be useful for newly-qualified social workers and social work professionals looking for on-the-job legal support.