Books to buy
 |
Plain English for Social Services: A Guide to Better Communication Graham Hopkins Russell House Publishing £12.50 (plus £1.50 p+p) ISBN 1 898924 14 7 Reports written by people working in social and health care need to be: clear; direct; and easily understood by clients, carers and members of the public. This text is an informative guide for anyone involved in social care, looking openly at information produced by Social Services Departments to show how userunfriendly they can be, and provides guidance on how to communicate better with their intended audience. By using many examples, this text advises how to: write clearly and concisely; use everyday words and avoid jargon; improve the layout and design; avoid common errors; and punctuate work effectively. Read Reviews |
|
|
|
||
 |
The Write Stuff: A Guide to Effective Writing in Social Care and Related Services Graham Hopkins. Russell House Publishing Price: £12.50 (plus £1.50 p+p) People who are working in social care, health care and related fields are increasingly being asked to produce all sorts of different written work. They have to write everything from letters and memos to reports and procedures and publicity. People might spend 50 per cent of their time writing, and yet they are usually left to their own devices as everybody is simply expected to know how to write. Writing is a skill, and this text aims to show the reader how to develop their skills to produce effective written work. It aims to help plan, write and present written work, even if an organisation has set formats and styles to follow. Read Reviews |
|
 |
An Inspector Calls. A Practical Look at Social Care Inspection Graham Hopkins Russell House Publishing £5.00 (plus £1.50 delivery) SPECIAL OFFER! ISBN 1 898924 57 0 Inspection of social care can seem to be in a state of perpetual reorganisation and restructuring. But wherever it is based and whatever its guidance, inspection is set to continue and inspectors must strive to work with the inspected to improve care. This book is based on national research and case studies in six inspection units, and looks at the image and the reality of social care inspection. It tries to bring a human face to what can all too often be a focus of anxiety, fear and negative publicity. It sets out to discover and share: what it's like to be an inspector; what it's like to be inspected; who inspectors are, and who should they be; how they should go about their work; what works well, and what could happen to make things better; what providers think about inspectors and inspection. This work aims to help the inspector and those being inspected to work together to the benefit of the people who use the services. Read Reviews |
|
 |
Constant Delights: Rakes, Rogues and Scandal in Restoration England Graham Hopkins Robson Books £10 hardback (plus £1.50 p+p) Constant Delights looks from a rather jaunty angle at one of the most remarkable and fashionable periods in English history. Peopled with names such as Milton, Pepys, Dryden, Halley, Purcell, Bunyan, Wren, Lely and Kneller, the reign of Charles II (166085) was a time of innovation, creativity and beauty. It also had more than its fair share of debauchery gambling, drinking, sex and violence, to be precise. That's where Constant Delights picks up the story. Constant Delights reports in a lively and readable way on the outrageous characters whose deeds filled newsletters and satires, and who fuelled dinner table and satire talk. Soundly researched, it exposes the fops, the rakes, the rogues, the whores, the slatterns, the bitches. And that's just the men. |
|
 |
Nell Gwynne: A Passionate Life Graham Hopkins Robson Books £10 hardback, £5 paperback (plus £1.50 p+p) Nell Gwynne the archetypal tartwithaheartlived the classic ragstoriches story: the poor woman who fell in love with a King. Nelly as she was known also stole the heart of the nation and has held the affection of generations since. A star of the stage an accomplished and much loved comedienne she caught the eye of King Charles II, becoming one of his mistresses and bearing two of his four children. Their relationship lasted over 16 years and only ended with his death in 1685. This highly entertaining and readable book is the most authoritative biography written to date. The author's extensive research has uncovered new evidence and provides a wealth of detail offering an intriguing insight into the domestic life of Nell. It is a hugely enjoyable, witty and uplifting account of a fascinating woman from a remarkable time. Read Reviews |
|