Knowledge-in-Practice in the Caring Professions

Knowledge-in-Practice in the Caring Professions explores the nature and role of knowledge in the practical work of the caring professions. It focuses on knowledge of the practical over the theoretical, looking at the application of theory and the implementation of skill, judgment and discretion. Containing contributions from experts in a variety of fields, the research within this book offers a unique perspective on professional practice as multi-disciplinary, illustrating shared and overlapping understandings in knowledge-in-practice between the different professions as well as understandings that are distinctive to each discipline. It underlines that in order to effectively address the range of social, psychological and health problems facing contemporary societies, professionals need to engage in cooperative models of practice.

Heather Marion D'Cruz is Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Deakin University, Australia. She is the author of Constructing Meanings and Identities in Child Protection Practice (2004) and the co-author (with M. Jones) of Social Work Reserarch: Ethical and Political Contexts (2004). Struan Jacobs is the author of Science and British LIberalism (1994) and the co-editor (with R.T.Allen) of Emotion, Reason and Tradition (2005). Adrian Schoo is the co-author (with M.E. Morris) of Optimizing Exercise and Physical Activity in Older People (2004).

Introduction, Heather D'Cruz, Struan Jacobs, Adrian Schoo; Chapter 1 Ideas of knowledge in practice, Struan Jacobs; Chapter 2 Information, knowledge and wisdom in medical practice, P.B. Greenberg; Chapter 3 The practice of the psychiatrist, Alex Holmes; Chapter 4 Social work knowledge-in-practice, Heather D'Cruz; Chapter 5 Disability: a personal approach, Lisa Chaffey; Chapter 6 Knowledge in the making: an analytical psychology perspective, Joy Norton; Chapter 7 Knowledge to action in the practice of nursing, Alison Hutchinson, Tracey Bucknall; Chapter 8 The risky business of birth, Frances Sheean, Jennifer M. Cameron; Chapter 9 Skills for person-centred care: health professionals supporting chronic condition prevention and self-management, Sharon Lawn, Malcolm Battersby; Chapter 10 Knowledge and reasoning in practice: an example from physiotherapy and occupational therapy, Megan Smith, Sylvie Meyer, Karen Stagnitti, Adrian Schoo; Chapter 11 Using knowledge in the practice of dealing with addiction: an ideal worth aiming for, Peter Miller; Chapter 12 Conclusions: Knowledge-in-practice in the caring professions: reflections on commonalities and differences, Heather D'Cruz, Struan Jacobs, Adrian Schoo;