Mastering Approaches to Diversity in Social Work

Gast, a trainer and consultant in the social care and criminal justice fields, and Patmore, a social worker, trainer, and practice assessor, provide a guide for social workers, students, managers, practice teachers, assessors, and trainers that shows practitioners how to work with people from diverse backgrounds. They explain the concept of diversity and how social workers need to understand their own prejudices, biases, stereotypes, and opinions and how they impact practice; the impact of power on the social work relationship; models for understanding discrimination and cultural diversity to positively influence interactions with service users; understanding learning styles and personality types and how to adapt practices to them; and the stages of a diversity awareness model. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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 working with hate crime offenders. Anne Patmore is an independent social worker, trainer and practice assessor, and is also an Associate of In-Trac Training and Consultancy. She has worked in child and family social work and trains on various topics including equality and diversity, safeguarding children, and working with disabled children.