social work

Individual budget users and carers

The author reports on research which aimed to examine the impact on carers of people receiving individual budgets and the outcomes for carers of this new approach.

While there are many ways in which personal budgets can be provided, one of the main ways is through a direct payment.

This research is the first to examine the impact on carers of people receiving IBs and the outcomes for carers of this new approach.

Social Work Inspection Agency: Performance Inspection Summary: East Ayrshire Council 2009

The Social work Inspection Agency (SWIA) is carrying out performance inspections of all local authority social work services in Scotland. This leaflet summarises some key findings of the inspection of East Ayrshire Council’s social work services, which are set out in the full report published in June 2009.

Why do people think inequality is worse than poverty?

The JRF's public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern ‘socialevils’ on the theme of ‘inequality’. Jeremy Seabrook argues that, in the face of extraordinary imbalances in society, the myth that accumulating wealth is the supreme human purpose needs to be replaced before any improvement will occur.

How do health professionals deal with life and death decisions? Harsh realities : Programme 2 - BBC Radio 4 Science

Harsh Realities looks at how doctors, nurses, social services, and advisers take vital decisions about people's lives. The second programme in the series tackles child disability and the stark choices facing parents and professionals when a baby is born severely disabled. In each programme, Niall Dickson will be joined by professionals who have direct experience of the subject under discussion. In order to listen to this programme select programme 1 for audio access.

The law and social work in Scotland (OU podcasts)

This album tackles the complex relationships social workers experience in the wide spectrum of their work, from those with families affected by social deprivation to those with judges, lawyers and other members of the legal system. The tracks analyse the role of the family in Scottish life in relation to the many voluntary bodies that exist to assist and inform them, and the legal obligations of social workers. Participants from single mothers to solicitors presented their perspectives in a series of frank, informative interviews.

Gathering information

This e-learning resource uses a video scenario to help the user develop observation, listening and interviewing skills and to become more aware of its own subjectivity. Different ways of asking questions will be considered in more depth and there is an opportunity to try out some creative approaches to gathering information using diagrams or art-based tools.

Using play and the creative arts to communicate with children and young people

Children and young people communicate in ways which are different from or additional to those used by adults This resource begins by exploring some of the reasons why children and young people communicate in these additional and alternative ways. It then goes on to describe ways of using stories, art work, creative writing and music as forms of communication.