Child Protection Work: Beyond the Rhetoric

Exploring the practice frameworks and sense-making techniques employed by child care professionals she demonstrates the importance of the cultural, political and organisational context in which the work is carried out. The processing of reported child protection concerns is followed from the earliest stages of identification to assessment, conferencing and long-term monitoring. In addition, data from interviews with parents who have been involved in child protection investigations provides a vitally important perspective for professionals.

Emphasising that practice is a dynamic process requiring constant reflection and review, this book looks beyond procedural guidelines to help professionals, academics and policy makers involved with child assessment and protection to gain a deeper understanding of their work.