This succinct yet comprehensive book written by Margaret Reith and Malcolm Payne combines the authors' more than 70 years of social work experience to provide a definitive introduction to social work practice in end-of-life and palliative care. Reith and Payne trace the development of palliative care and the important role of social work within it. The book's unique sociological focus on required practitioner knowledge of death, dying, and bereavement helps balance out the prevalent psychological focus of other books in the field. Chapters in the book focus on practice skills and interventions. Extensive use of case materials throughout the text help students and practitioners juggle the precarious balance of helping their clients keep hope for the future while understanding the truth that people are moving towards death. Unlike many books that focus on medical issues, this book addresses ethical issues faced by social workers and helps them guide their clients through this difficult journey.

Author Biography

Margaret Reith is senior social worker at the Princess Alice Hospice, Surrey, UK, formerly the social work manager there. She is the author of research and professional papers in palliative care and forensic mental health, and of Community Care Tragedies: A Practice Guide to Mental Health Inquiries. She has presented papers in the UK, the USA, several European countries, and Japan. Malcolm Payne is the director of psycho-social and spiritual care at St. Christopher's Hospice in London. He is emeritus professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. He has been extensively involved in international social work, leading and working on projects to develop social work and social policy in Russia, China, and Eastern Europe. He has written 10 books and 250 shorter works published in 13 languages, including the best-selling Modern Social Work Theory as well as What is Professional Social Work? and Teamwork in Multiprofessional Care.