Social Work Management and Leadership Book

Management and leadership are increasingly important within the organization and delivery of social care services and now form part of the post qualification framework for social workers. Yet, whilst there is a relatively broad understanding of management concepts and their application in social care, students and managers are often encouraged to not challenge the status quo. Furthermore, leadership is open to a wide range of interpretations and is often ill-defined with the expectation that we share a common understanding of the term. This text promotes an appreciation of the development of management and leadership thinking and the different themes which inform current ideas on those topics. It considers these topics from other theoretical standpoints in order to stimulate readers to consider their own experience and expectations of management and leadership. It then demonstrates ways in which these standpoints might be used to analyze the work, management and leadership within social care organizations and ways in which such organizations might then develop, encouraging reflection on current practice. This text is essential reading for students of management and leadership in social care as well as being an invaluable resource for managers who simply wish to reflect on their practice.Read More