Rewriting Social Care
On sale
18th September 2025
Price: £18.99
The way we communicate with people matters, and the way we communicate about people, and about the purpose and practice of social care and social work matters too. The words we use reflect our values and feelings which influences the way we think and behave.
This is a book about language, and how the words we hear, read and choose to use both expose and perpetuate attitudes and behaviours. It’s about the words that are too dominant in our narrative and practice, and the words that should dominate.
It’s also a book about change. Changing how we communicate about people. Changing how we understand and articulate the purpose of social care. Changing how we practice. And ultimately changing the story of social care.
And mainly it’s a book about being human. About recognising each other as equal, valued human beings, and about creating a more human, humane future for us all.
This is a book about language, and how the words we hear, read and choose to use both expose and perpetuate attitudes and behaviours. It’s about the words that are too dominant in our narrative and practice, and the words that should dominate.
It’s also a book about change. Changing how we communicate about people. Changing how we understand and articulate the purpose of social care. Changing how we practice. And ultimately changing the story of social care.
And mainly it’s a book about being human. About recognising each other as equal, valued human beings, and about creating a more human, humane future for us all.
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Reviews
'Transformation' is a word that is often superficially bandied about and has consequently lost much of its power. But if you really do want to properly, unflashily and authentically transform Adult Social Care then start here, with Bryony.
'Us, not us and them'. Bryony captures the central problem that no amount of system or 'strength-based' change will solve . Our language underpins the othering we practice - Bryony shows us how to face this.
Bryony's book is just what everyone in the social care space needs right now; a brilliant, must read about how we reframe the narrative from one of 'them and us' to a humanised one of 'all of us'.
This is a truly outstanding book by an author who over recent years has become wholly integral to the development of rights-based practice with adults, recognising that the language we use is evidence of the values that we take into every situation. Whether it's dispelling labels or advocating love, understanding the power of language, and using that towards the advancement of better social care ensures that this book is a vital companion to all those interested in social care.
Labels stick! Bryony's book is a brilliant exploration of the power of words and of the importance of gloriously ordinary language