Previous edition: exeter: Learning Matters, 2010.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 174-186) and index.

Machine generated contents note: ch. 1 Understanding human development through the life course -- Life course development and social work practice -- Understanding your own life experiences -- The impact of values on understanding human development -- Ways of explaining human life course development -- Interprofessional practice -- ch. 2 An introduction to theoretical models for understanding human life course development -- What is theory? -- Taking a life course perspective on human development -- Theories of human life course development -- Comparing and contrasting the theoretical approaches -- The biographical approach -- ch. 3 Using life course development knowledge in social work practice with infants, young children and their families -- Social work practice and child development -- The developing child -- The social and emotional development of infants and children -- developing attachments -- Safeguarding children: children in need and children in need of protection.

Contents note continued: ch. 4 Using life course development knowledge in social work practice with older children and their families -- Defining middle childhood -- Theories and explanations of development in middle childhood -- Social development in middle childhood -- The influence of the family -- The ecological approach -- ch. 5 Using life course development knowledge in social work practice with adolescents -- Defining adolescence -- Theories and explanations of development in adolescence -- Social development in adolescence -- Individual difference in adolescence -- ch. 6 Using life course development knowledge in social work practice with adults -- What do we understand by the term `adult'? -- Stages of development through adult life -- Critique of staged theories of adult development -- Life events as transitions -- The impact on life course development of having a disability -- ch. 7 Using life course development knowledge in social work practice with older adults.

Contents note continued: Defining `later adulthood' -- Theories and explanations of development in (later) adulthood -- Significance of transitions in later life -- Diversity in later adulthood -- Conclusion -- Book structure -- Professional development and reflective practice.

In order to practice effectively, social workers need a critical understanding of how people develop and how the different stages in the average life course can alter and affect a person. Covering all stages of the life course, this book looks at the ways in which people develop before birth, as babies and children through adolescence and onto young, middle and older adulthood. With this knowledge, social workers are able to establish and maintain effective partnerships with both service-users and other professionals alike.