Social Work Communication Skills focuses on helping students learn essential communication skills in order to work effectively as a professional social worker. It includes hands-on individual and group exercises that serve to enhance students’ understanding of the importance of professional communication skills in the field of social work.   

Table of Contents:
Preface xv Acknowledgements xvii   PA R T O N E A Brief History of Social Work 1 History of Social Work Section One: Formation of Social Work in England Elizabethan Poor Laws Impact of America’s Civil War Thomas Bernard Octavia Hill   Section Two: Formation of Social Work in America America’s Social Welfare Programs Social Welfare of the Late 1800s, Early 1900s Boston’s Charity Organizations New York’s Charity Organization Society   Section Three: Important Contributors to Social Work Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr Mary E. Richmond President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal Plan   Section Four: Definition and Characteristics of Social Work Defining Social Work Characteristics of Social Work Dimensions of Social Work   Section Five: The Social Work Milieu and Context What Is Social Work? What Does a Social Worker Do? Why Are Professional Communication Skills Pertinent to the Profession?   P A R T TWO Professional Written Communication 2 Communicating About Yourself Section One: Expectations and Practice Exploration   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: The Job Search Today’s Job Market Education Demographics of Interest   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Writing a Resumé and Cover Letter Traditional Resumé Traditional Resumé Guidelines E-Resumé E-Resumé Guidelines Resumé Styles Cover Letter Guidelines   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Four: The Interview Preparation Nonverbal Communication Appearance The Appointment Follow-Up of the Interview Process Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   3 Finding and Communicating Current Knowledge Section One: Research Topic and Resources Choosing a Research Topic Resources   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: The Traditional Library The Library of Congress The Dewey Decimal Classification System Source Legitimacy Guidelines   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Web-based Resources Search Strategies Reliability of Sites   Section Four: Peer-reviewed Journal Articles What Is a Peer-reviewed Journal Article? Components of a Peer-reviewed Journal Article   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Five: Writing Tips and the APAWriting Style Writing Tip American Psychological Association (APA) Style   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Six: Tips on Getting YourWriting Published Preparing, Planning, and Submitting Expectations   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   PA R T T H R E E Professional Verbal and Nonverbal Communication 4 What Are Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Skills? Section One: The Significance of Verbal Communication Voice Tone and Intensity Verbal Content and Civility   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: The Significance of Nonverbal Communication What is Nonverbal Communication? Social Rhythms   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: The Significance of Nonverbal Behavior Body Language   Section Four: The Framework of “Decoding” Client Nonverbal Behavior Communication The Use of PERCEIVE   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   PA R T F O U R Professional Communication in Supervision, Confidentiality, and Client Documentation 5 Communicating in Supervision Section One: The History of Social Work Supervision What Is Social Work Supervision?   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Role of Supervisor and Preparing for Supervision Knowledge and Skills Monitoring and Evaluating Administrative Duties Strengths of a Successful Supervisor What If the Supervisor Is a Nonsocial Work Practitioner?   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Role of Practitioner and Getting the Most Out of Supervision Role of the Social Work Practitioner   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Four: Problem Solving in Supervision The Concept of “Balance”   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   6 Communicating about Confidentiality Section One: What are Right to Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privileged Communication? Defining Right to Privacy, Confidentiality, and Privileged Communication   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Threats and Exceptions to Maintaining Client Confidentiality and Privileged Communication Threats to Client Confidentiality and Privileged Communication Exceptions to Maintaining Client Confidentiality and Privileged Communication   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Waiver of Confidentiality or Privileged Communication What Is a Waiver? Consent for Release of Information HIPAA: Notice of Privacy Practices   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   7 Communicating about Clients Section One: The Purpose and Importance of Accurate Case Note Documentation The Purpose for Case Notes The Importance of Accuracy   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Types and Content of Case Note Recordings Narrative (Process Recording) Problem-Oriented Recording (POR)   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Risk-Management Guidelines for Case Note Documentation Risk-Management Guidelines   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   PA R T F I V E Communicating with Clients 8 What Is Cultural Diversity? Section One: Essential Characteristics of Culture Defining Culture and Subculture Challenges in Developing Multicultural Competence   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Developing Multicultural Competence NASW Code of Ethics Cultural Competence and Social Diversity The Road to Multicultural Competence What Is Cultural Relativism? Communication Reminder   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Cross-Cultural Model of Practice Client Individualism Becoming Culturally Sensitive Grounded Knowledge Base What Is Ethnocentrism?   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   9 Client Spirituality and Empowerment Section One: Spirituality, Religion, and Secularism Defining and Contrasting Spirituality, Religion, and Secularism   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Tenets of Social Work with Spirituality The How-To’s of Spiritually Sensitive Practice Controversial Issues of Spirituality in Social Work   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Defining and Understanding Empowerment What Is Empowerment? Principles of Empowerment   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Four: Strategies for Fostering Client Empowerment Understanding Power and Powerlessness Believing in Client Abilities Encouraging Client Problem Solving Empowerment Guidelines   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   10 Communicating with Clients Using Professional Questioning Skills Section One: Defining Closed- and Open-ended Questions Closed-ended Questions Open-ended Questions   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Communication Cycle and SkillBuildingof Client Questioning Communication Cycle of Client Questioning Skill Building of Client Questioning   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Three: Multicultural and Gender Interviewing Multicultural Interviewing Skills Gender Interviewing Skills   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   11 Client Reflection Section One: What Is Reflection? Defining Reflection Reflection Skills   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Understanding the Styles and Applications of Reflection Reflection of Content Reflection of Feeling Reflection of Thinking or Meaning   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   12 Communicating with Clients Using Positive Confrontation and Information-Giving Section One: Defining and Building Positive Confrontation Skills Defining Positive Confrontation Building Positive Client Confrontation Skills   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Types of Information-Giving Responses Orienting Statement Instructions or Directions Feedback Alternative Perspective (Reframe) Informational Statement Maximizing Client Information-Giving   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   13 Communicating in a Rural Setting Section One: What Is a Rural Community? Characteristics of the Rural Community Communication in a Rural Community   Applying What You Have Learned   Section Two: Ethical Issues in a Rural Community Community Involvement and Gossip Confidentiality in Rural Communities   Applying What You Have Learned Chapter Summary and Conclusion Key Words and Concepts References   PA R T S I X Professional and Successful Communication 14 Putting It All Together Section One: A Professional Resumé and Cover Letter Development of a Professional Resumé Development of a Professional Cover Letter   Section Two: Professional Social Work Communication Components Research in Social Work Verbal Communication Nonverbal Communication Body Language   Section Three: Applying Professional Communication Skills to the Social Work Practicum Communication in Supervision Communication in the Helping Role References Index