Children, Spirituality, Religion and Social Work

This is an examination of spirituality in children for the purpose of educating social workers to understand and provide "whole care" for children in their charge who profess a spirituality, be it religious or otherwise. The book endeavours to combine the author's own interest in the development and study of the subject with the requirements of social work practice and attention to the whole care of the whole child. The text seeks to expand, extend and deepen ideas and materials from the CCETSW training pack with particular reference to everyday practice in settings associated with social work, and to introduce a further range of materials and topics. It aims to propose ways in which religion and spirituality are of importance in social work with and on behalf of children in a range of settings including day, foster and residential care, and home-based individual and family work. Material and ideas are of relevance to practitioners in voluntary and statutory agencies and establishments and in settings concerned with medical, psychiatric, offending, educational and other specializations. A number of practitioners in a range of settings contributed experiences and ideas, for the intention at all times is to demonstrate that spirituality and religion are essentially aspects of the whole, everyday person with implications for well-being in ordinary, everyday life and practice. A further intention is to contribute to the literature of communication with children, the underlying philosophy at all times is on essential good practice - listening, attention and respect. The book also examines the possible harmful aspects of the topics. Divided into six parts, it covers ideas and information about spirituality and religious rights, religion and spirituality. In sections four and five these topics are applied to two areas of practice - abuse and neglect, and death and bereavement. The final part of the book suggests approaches to communication in the context of religion and/or spirituality which serve as models for other forms of communication and applications. Groups of questions and suggestions are included throughout the book. These may be used by individuals or in groups to help focus materials and ideas on everyday practice.