Managing Social Service Staff for Excellence


Book Description

An essential guide for those charged with supervision of nonclinical staffin programs, agencies, and units within social service organizations "As someone who has worked in social service agencies, consulted with hundreds of them, and who teaches social service professionals, Ms. Summers knows the issues faced by agencies firsthand. From this experience she has compiled a thoughtful and well-organized text that identifies the principles of effective supervision." —Samuel Knapp, EdD Director of Professional Affairs, Pennsylvania Psychological Association From the Foreword The care of patients and clients of social service agencies is increasingly being performed by paraprofessionals or professionals with little experience. While there are many books written about giving quality clinical supervision, there is very little on supervising the least experienced frontline nonclinical and clinical staff to teach and promote positive and effective interaction with clients, and provide staff support and training that elevates quality care, improves job satisfaction, and minimizes staff turnover. Based on author Nancy Summers' many years of working with troubled social service agencies, Managing Social Service Staff for Excellence: Five Keys to Exceptional Supervision fills this need and offers numerous ideas for securing the best care for those served by social service agencies. Common problems faced by agencies are examined with regard to employee behavior and wellness, including staff teamwork, how to build healthy staff/client relationships, and the identification and prevention of routine disrespect of clients and their needs. Diagnostic techniques are presented for identifying these problems, as well as remedies and prevention programs that can be put in place without great expense. Filled with interviews and numerous case examples, Managing Social Service Staff for Excellence offers a step-by-step process for: creating good preventive measures to counteract negative practices that can occur; developing robust commitment and enthusiasm; and getting back on the right track after unfortunate incidents have taken place.




Achieving Excellence in the Management of Human Service Organizations


Book Description

This book attempts to create an integrated model for management and administrative practice in the management of human service organizations. The book presents a theoretical foundation for human services management and identifies the major roles and responsibilities of the manager/administrator.To date, management books have identified problems in organizational functioning and described how systems should work. This book goes beyond description. First, it identifies themes that serve as guidelines to insure internal consistency within the organization. Then it proposes what managers need to do to put their organizations back on track toward excellence. The overall emphasis is on how to get employees to perform at their optimum levels to insure organizational efficiency, effectiveness, quality and productivity.For people in Human Services Management and Social Work Administration/ Management.




The Social Worker as Manager


Book Description

The fifth edition of The Social Worker as Manager combines presentation of management theory and practical advice. It is designed to help social workers to successfully perform the tasks of management at any level. This text was written for both students and those practitioners who find themselves with increased management responsibilities. It describes those functions and tasks that all managers perform while emphasizing how they are shaped by the uniqueness of human service organizations. This edition is easy to read, conversational, and contains many new and revised examples, topics, and practical applications.




Social Work Leadership and Management


Book Description

This book describes the transformation of leadership and management in the context of selected newer leadership approaches in social work and human service organisations. It is an essential primer that focuses on the extent to which the approaches presented help managers in social enterprises deal with current challenges in depth and to develop suitable answers to questions such as: What is leadership? How does this differ from management? What leadership qualifications do executives currently need for long-term and future-oriented management? Leadership and management in social work and human service organisations are constantly confronted with various challenges: employees want to be supported individually; managers must be able to act in an entrepreneurial manner; the organizational culture should be developed from a holistic point of view. Self-management in self-organised work contexts is increasingly the focus. In addition, organisations and the employees working in these institutions must struggle with constant changes in the environment under volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) conditions. Based on an overview of classic and newer leadership approaches, this book introduces readers to selected concepts and theories relevant to the social economy, which various current textbooks in general business administration and specifically in social work management do not provide in a concise way. After introducing an innovative translational leadership framework, the book places leadership and management theories and approaches at the centre of the discussion that help to reflect on the application and adaptation of leadership styles in social work practice. Additionally, the book discusses changes taking place in the social and economic environment as well as in attitudes of agile leaders, in the practice of adaptive and digital leadership. Social Work Leadership and Management: Current Approaches and Concepts for Social and Human Service Organisations is specifically geared to the needs of social work educators, students, researchers and practitioners in academic and agency (social and human service sectors) settings who can acquire knowledge and skills to support the viability and positive functioning of social work organisations, and to engage with other individuals, groups, and organisations.




Management in Social Work


Book Description

The third edition of this textbook has been thoroughly revised to meet the needs of today's social work students, professionals and service managers. It illustrates current legislation, policy, procedure and concerns, with additional material included to develop readers' confidence and skills in the context of learning organisations. This book is essential reading for students and practitioners alike, particularly those who need to understand organisation and management theory for study purposes and those who aspire to move into social work management or have been recent promoted. New to this Edition: - Fully revised and reorganised to reflect current legislation and policy - New material added to develop managers' confidence and skills in the context of learning organisations - Experienced new coauthors added to successful writing team




Successful Project Management in Social Work and Social Care


Book Description

Managers in social work and social care contexts are required to manage a wide range of projects: long-term and short-term, on large and small scales, in partnership with other agencies, and covering a broad range of issues and contexts. Management of these projects requires specific expertise, and this book sets out what these core skills are and how they can be achieved. Topics such as managing resources, assessing risks, and measuring outcomes are covered, as well as how to start and end a project. The authors acknowledge the values and ethics inherent to care environments, as well as the business skills necessary for good management. Detailed case studies demonstrate the ideas in action, and reflective activities, practical tools and action checklists are included throughout. This practical handbook provides a clear and comprehensive guide to how to be an excellent project manager, and is a must-read for all social work and social care managers and post-qualifying social work and social care students.




Achieving Service Excellence


Book Description

As the service sectors play an increasingly important role in all economies worldwide, service executives and professionals are well advised to recognize two main pathways to achieving sustainable success in services. The first path requires enhancing the strategic differentiation and operational excellence of their service enterprises; the second requires that these executives and their employees develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve such success. Specifically, this book discusses actionable methodologies needed to generate creative ideas, including deciding on which ones to pursue; on how to justify projects financially; on how to manage the development projects for innovative services; and on how to reach out to customers and offer them superior service support.




Organisations and Management in Social Work


Book Description

What role does social work play in human service organisations? How do social workers experience and initiate organisational change? How can they engage and negotiate with managers and other professionals? How does a social worker deal with ethical and interpersonal conflicts within organisations? Organisations and Management in Social Work grounds these complex questions in a comprehensive and accessible overview of the organisational context of social work practice. The book demonstrates how effective service delivery is dependent on organisational and managerial activities and procedures, and emphasises the importance of critiquing existing organisational structures. This invaluable book: " critically examines organisational theory, managerial techniques and organisational structures " develops strategies for ethical and reflective organisational practice " promotes an understanding of how to plan and manage change in learning organisations " helps readers understand the nature of social work professionalism, including partnership and teamwork, and the inherent tensions in human service organisations " discusses important themes such as leadership, supervision, risk, decision making, and accountability " explores the potential for increasing service user and worker participation in organisations " includes extended practice examples and reflective questions. Organisations and Management in Social Work will be essential reading for social work students and professionals who wish to better understand the organisational context in which they work. Dr Mark Hughes is a Lecturer and Dr Michael Wearing is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work in the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of New South Wales.




Organisations and Management in Social Work


Book Description

The second edition of Organisations and Management in Social Work examines the complex organisational settings in which social workers practice and identifies opportunities for taking action for positive change. A robust critique of organisational practices is encouraged throughout the book with an emphasis on active participation in the everyday life of organisations. The new edition covers: - Leadership and supervision - Inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working - Ethical practice and decision-making - Communication and the emotional life of organisations Each chapter includes updated practice examples and reflective questions so readers can apply the knowledge learned to real life practice. It will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of social work. The book will also be a valuable text for front-line practitioners and managers wishing to understand the organisational context of social work.




Enhancing Social Work Management


Book Description

This book looks at the nature of management in the human services sector and examines the prevailing issues affecting both the UK and USA. Contradictory forces affect the act of management, such as the imperatives driving the introduction of new control systems which exist alongside the requirement to cut resources. In this book, contributors present both the problems and opportunities associated with the growth of management in the social care sector. They cover key topics including the implementation of change in the childcare sector; diversity - looking at the ways in which care managers can more effectively serve a growing multicultural and global society; performance measurement; the impact of electronic technologies and telecommunications; risk and safety in the workplace; and ethics in making personnel decisions, managing finances, planning and maintaining key relationships. This will be essential reading for social workers and human services managers, and students in health and social welfare internationally.