Abstract

Communication skills are fundamental to effective social work practice.

Accessible and easy-to-read, Mastering Communication in Social Work is designed to help you develop these essential skills. It explores the basics of how communication works, the factors that influence how effectively you attend to and convey information, and how you can improve your communication. Particular attention is given to the challenges posed by difficult clients and the cultural dimensions of communication. Gast and Bailey put forward a reflective model for practice designed help you break bad habits and develop a wider repertoire of communication behaviours. Practice vignettes and exercises for the reader are included throughout.

This book is essential reading for social work students, practitioners, managers, practice teachers and assessors, and trainers, as well as those in allied professions.

This engaging text provides qualifying and post qualifying social work students with an illuminating framework for developing and sustaining effective communication skills for social work practice.
Professor Gillian Ruch, Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Sussex.

Linda Gast is an independent trainer and consultant in the social care and criminal justice fields, and is an Associate of In-Trac Training and Consultancy. She provides training on diversity, equal opportunities, gender issues and staff supervision skills.
Martin Bailey is a trainer and consultant with a background in social care. He is an Associate of In-Trac Training and Consultancy. His special interest areas include communication with children and parents, staff well-being and behaviour change.

I'm delighted to see a series that is accessible and that deals with the knowledge and skills needed to work creatively with the everyday concerns and complex issues encountered in direct social work practice. This series offers indispensable coverage of key issues.
Pamela Trevithick, Visiting Professor in Social Work, Buckinghamshire New University, UK
An invaluable resource for qualifying students and more experienced practitioners alike.
Brian Littlechild, Professor of Social Work, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire