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9781905541751

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In the UK, engagement has become a byword for 'doing things differently', shifting responsibility for the provision and funding of services away from central government to a broader coalition of public, voluntary, independent and citizen's services - Gillian Squirrell has examined a number of the key challenges of engagement for all charged with providing effective engagement, be they policy makers and/or practitioners/contributors. In a concise publication she has revisited earlier theoretical constructs, providing a contemporary framework of understanding that redefines engagement as an evolutionary process. Furthermore, she demonstrates how engagement can, and should, transcend political agendas in achieving credible, tangible outcomes for all stakeholders, leading to sustainable change in service development, design and delivery - The book is well structured and organised... a publication 'to support and extend professional and community practice, to provoke reflection and encourage critical thinking'... One of the essential requirements advocated by Squirrell is that the 'ethical behaviours, power and practical considerations' be acknowledged and understood within a values-based framework which informs and influences both methods of engagement and models of practice. The chapters covering communication, working with people and working not to exclude are littered with exercises to encourage and enhance critical thinking, reflection and practical application of effective engagement strategies... This book challenges preconceived ideas as to what effective engagement entails and provides its readers with theoretical models and practical guidance to effectively challenge poor practice, i.e. from an informed evidence base and to proactively shape best practice i.e. understand the value base informing ethical practice... This publication will prove to be an excellent reference point for those individuals who have responsibility for engagement. Human Solutions Bulletin

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Dr Gillian Squirrell describes her career as social sciences in action. With an academic background in social sciences and management she has worked for over 20 years in research, evaluation, training, organisational development and as a social entrepreneur. She has worked in and been contracted to universities, research and development institutes, the public sector and non-profits. She founded and was the CEO of a residential, learning and training project for offenders and substance misusers for 10 years. She has undertaken many national evaluations of social policy and programme interventions, run national consultations and researched and trained extensively in areas of programme development, evaluation, engagement and the interplay of research, policy and practice development. As an organisational consultant and manager she has been actively engaged in working with change in organisations and mediating the various challenges that changes to programme expectations and budgets can present. She works extensively with action research and action learning and systems theory. She is currently researching and developing a new vocationally geared social enterprise programme for excluded adults. More information about the author can be found at www.gilliansquirrell.net.

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