Amazon.com description: Product Description: Now brought thoroughly up to date, this book was acclaimed in the previous edition. "Very clearly laid out with a range of useful exercises that encourage the reader to reflect, both on their own practice and on reading...to feel enthused not only to explore specific issues such as assessment, but also to look at how they might take their thinking further...I would recommend this book to anybody involved in S/NVQ Awards in Care at Level 4...it would also be a valuable starting point to social work students at the beginning of their training." - "Rostrum". Specifically designed with S/NVQ4 and foundation degrees in social care in mind, it is an excellent way of grasping the required knowledge base and developing a fuller understanding of what is involved in the complex and fascinating world of social care. It will also provide great assistance for anyone involved in S/NVQ awards at Levels 2 and 3 and other social care courses. It covers: learning from experience; the value base of social care; working in partnership; understanding assessment; planning responses; evaluation and development. It provides: a clear summary and overview of many of the key issues that go to make up the underpinning knowledge base; an introductory foundation to your studies; a guide to further development; and, clear links to Neil Thompson's companion book "People Skills" (Palgrave Macmillan 2002). Whatever the level of your experience, this book will help you link the elements of your knowledge into a more coherent and constructive framework of understanding. It will make it easier for you to provide - and demonstrate - evidence of this. Throughout, exercises are provided to help you check and deepen your understanding.