Ends and Means in Social Work: The Development and Outcome of a Case Review System for Social Workers

Ends and Means in Social Work was the first book to provide research-based evidence on what social workers actually do, what they were aiming to achieve, and what sense their activities made. It was based on a series of surveys and action studies of an area office's referrals and long-term clientele. The research aimed to discover how social work skills and other resources were being used to meet different client needs and to develop a new monitoring tool, the Case Review System, to become more explicit about the ends and means of their activities. The Case Review System can enable social workers to evaluate their practice, assist supervision, provide aggregated data on client characteristics, the use of resources, and outcomes, and answer questions about the relationships between client characteristics, problems, and social work practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Ends and Means in Social Work, originally published in 1979, emerged as a groundbreaking work that shed light on the real-world activities, goals, and impact of social workers. This pioneering book was the first to provide evidence-based insights into the work of social workers, both from their subjective perspectives and those of their clients.

The authors embarked on a comprehensive exploration by conducting surveys and action studies based on a years worth of referrals and the long-term clientele of an area office. Their primary objective was to understand the perspectives of clients regarding the newly reorganised social services and how social workers perceived these changes and their new responsibilities.

Furthermore, the research aimed to uncover how social work skills and other resources were being utilised to meet the diverse needs of clients. The authors designed the study to develop a novel monitoring tool, the Case Review System, which would enable social workers to become more explicit about both the ends and means of their activities.

The Case Review System generated widespread interest due to its ability to raise intriguing questions about who receives what and why. At an individual level, it empowers social workers to evaluate their practice by comparing their plans with their achievements. As an educational tool, it aids supervision by providing valuable insights into the work of social workers. As a management tool, it offers aggregated data on client characteristics, resource usage, and outcomes, facilitating informed decision-making. Additionally, as a research tool, it enables the exploration of relationships between client characteristics, problems, and social work practice, providing longitudinal data on client careers.

In response to the persistent demands for a comprehensive account of this research project and its results, this book has been written. It endeavors to bring together all the aspects of the specific research studies and to discuss their findings in depth. By examining the surveys, action studies, and the development of the Case Review System, Ends and Means in Social Work provides a rich and comprehensive understanding of the field of social work. It serves as a valuable resource for social workers, policymakers, and researchers alike, contributing to the ongoing dialogue and advancement of social work practice.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032051840