The Positive Social Worker

Developed from the author's own experiences in social work and social work education, this book considers alternative approaches for social workers in dealing with the extensive demands, persistent pressures, and stress that they may face in their daily working lives. The Positive Social Worker is firmly located in an individual, group, organisational, cultural, and socio-political context. It considers and celebrates concepts linked to the importance, and sources, of work-related well-being. Individual chapters describe and critically analyse the social work context, the role of hope, optimism, commitment, resilience, support, appraisals, positive emotions, and coping, self-efficacy, control, and agency. Throughout, clear links are made with social work practice. While the book concentrates on a UK context, it draws on literature from social work, social, organisational, work, and positive psychology and sociology, from the UK, the USA, Europe, Australasia, and other countries. This book should be considered essential reading for social workers, graduate and postgraduate social work students, practice teachers, and lecturers. It will also be of relevance to professionals and professionals-in-training in the criminal justice and health and social care fields.

Stewart Collins was employed for ten years in probation in Leeds, specialising in the later years as a practice teacher. He has worked as a volunteer with homeless people, older people, prisoners, children and families and, in particular, for many years, and currently, with people who experience alcohol problems. He has worked as a social work educator in Leeds, Glasgow, Bangor, and now with the OU in Scotland.

Introduction; Chapter 1 The Social Work Context- Pressure, Stress and Some Alternatives; Chapter 2 Hope; Chapter 3 Optimism; Chapter 4 Commitment; Chapter 5 Resilience; Chapter 6 Support; Chapter 7 Appraisals, Positive Emotions and Coping; Chapter 8 Efficacy and Confidence; Chapter 9 Control and Agency