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Social Care Practice in Rural Communities

Author

, ,

ISBN

9781862876361

Publication Date

09/03/2007

Format

Paperback

Page Extent

216

AUD $39.95 gst included

SKU: 9781862876361 Categories: , , , Tag:

The authors bring more than 40 years’ experience in rural social work and community development to the challenge of providing good social care to the more than 6 million people who live in rural Australia, some in very remote locations.


Their book emphasises the importance of a developmental approach encompassing proper planning, evidence-based policy, and the influence which practitioners can have. The first part explains the processes for developing, implementing and evaluating policies and social plans, including achieving impact through networking, formal consultations, community development, and lobbying.


Part two of the book looks at types of social care and the challenges each present. Those covered include:



  • Community-embedded, where practitioners view themselves as part of the community
  • Specialised, where the focus is on a particular target group or methodology
  • Statutory, where the provision of social care comes with legislative responsibility
  • Visiting, where the practitioner doesn’t live in the community but provides services on a visiting basis

The authors devote specific attention to Indigenous communities and, through case studies, provide examples of social care programs in action.


This is an invaluable book for practitioners and students of social work, nursing, education, psychology, community development, and social policy, as well as others who care for the social needs of rural communities on a voluntary basis.

Social care in rural places
Defining rural
Rural communities
Social care in rural contexts
The book

Part 1: Social Care Development

Social policy
Policy context
Social policy and rural communities
Policy formulation
Engaging with policy formulation
Conclusion

Social planning
Social care planning
Community services development
Community planning
Social impact assessment
Conclusion

Community development
Principles
Western community development
Indigenous community development
Conclusion

Part 2: Social Care Services and Practice

Individualised services and generalist practice
Service designs
Contextualising practice
Working in context
Developing a practice framework
Conclusion

Visiting services and practice
Service models and visiting practice
Contextualising practice
Working with other services and practitioners
Personal safety and risk management
Conclusion

Specialised services and practice
Specialised service provision
Contextualising services
Drawing boundaries
Working in combined positions
Developing specialist skills
Sharing specialist expertise locally
Networking with specialists
Conclusion

Statutory services and mandated practice
Social care and social control
Issues confronting statutory services
Practice issues relating to statutory and mandated work
Guidelines for undertaking statutory and mandated roles
Conclusion

Practice, practitioners, community, and lifestyle
Domains of practice
Practising and living in a rural community
Rural social care practice
Conclusion

Bibliography
Index

In this book, the authors take a broad approach to the notion of social care. They argue it is much broader than those services provided by professionals (such as counselling, or providing material/financial aid), and rather that social care is something that everyone participates in: professionals, service providers, organisations and individuals. Part One, social care development, looks at social policy (its development, implementation and evaluation); social planning at the local level; and community development. Part Two covers social care services and practice. Individual chapters discuss: individualised services and generalist practice; visiting services; specialised services; statutory services and mandated practice; and the benefits and challenges faced by practitioners who both live and work in the same community. Specific attention in the book is given to Indigenous communities and case studies are also discussed. This book would be of value to both practitioners who already work in rural communities, and students.

Family Matters (Australian Institute of Family Studies), 2007 No 77