Series of first-hand accounts by social welfare staff who have found themselves caught up in disasters and their aftermath. It tackles issues such as the degree to which disasters can be planned for, inter-agency co-ordination and co-operation, crisis management, and support for victims and carers.

This text includes a series of first-hand accounts by social welfare staff who have found themselves caught up in disasters and their aftermath. It tackles issues such as the degree to which disasters can be planned for, inter-agency co-ordination and co-operation, crisis management, medium and long term support for victims and care of the "carers". The book aims to help social welfare staff to be prepared to face such situations themselves. It aims to convey the realities of the support work undertaken, provides practical guidance on how to prepare for and manage disaster situations, and is intended to be practical, accessible and easy-to-read. Topics covered in this text include the role of the senior manager; managing a disaster support team; social welfare interventions; impacts; and implications for planning and inter-agency collaboration. It is suitable for social worker staff and managers in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, and for disaster and victim support groups such as CRUSE, Disaster Staff Network, and Disaster Action.