Evidence-based Practice in Social Work : Development of a New Professional Culture

The role of evidence-based practice is one of most central and controversial issues in social work today. This concise text introduces key concepts and processes of evidence-based practice whilst engaging with contemporary debates about its relevance and practicality.

Evidence-based Practice in Social Work provides both an argument for the importance of evidence-based practice in social work and fresh perspectives on its controversies and organizational prerequisites. It gives an accessible overview of:

• Why evidence-based practice is relevant to social work.
• The challenges that the realities of social work practice present to models of evidence-based practice.
• Concepts of evidence-based practice as a process and professional culture.
• The role and nature of evidence.
• How evidence-based practice can be implemented and the importance of the organisational context.
• The globalization of evidence-based practice, including issues of cultural diversity and adaptability of evidence-based interventions.
• Controversies and criticism of evidence-based practice.

Written by internationally well-respected experts, this text is an important read for all those with an interest in the area, from social work students to academics and researchers.