Over the past few decades, relationships between social workers and the media have become increasingly challenging. Social workers feel aggrieved by media reporting of their profession and believe that journalists lack sufficient knowledge and experience of the social services to report matters adequately and sensitively, whilst some journalists have urged social workers to adopt a more proactive public relations strategy. This book, first published in 1991, analyses the causes and consequences of the negative portrayal of social work within the media and considers various ways in which this image might be improved. The authors consider a variety of developments during the 1990s designed to redress imbalances in media reporting and present a more accurate picture of social workers and the people with whom they work. This title remains very relevant in light of the high profile cases related to the social service that continue to feature in the British press, and will be of particular value to students and researchers with an interest in the relationship between the media and social policy.

Series Information:
The State of Welfare

Contents:
Acknowledgements, Contributors, Prologue, 1. Social Theory, Social Change and Social Work: An Introduction, 2. Social Work Through the Looking Glass 3. After Social Work? 4. Postmodernism, Feminism and the Question of Difference, 5. Surface and Depth in Social Work Practice, 6. Social Work, Risk and "the Blaming System", 7. Telling Tales: Probation in the Contemporary Social Formation, 8. The Future of Social Work with Older People in a Changing World, 9. Social Work with Children and Families: From Child Welfare to Child Protection, 10. Regulation for Radicals: the State, CCETSW and the Academy, 11. Anti-Intellectualism and the Peculiarities of British Social Work Education

Child protection is one of the most high profile and challenging areas of social work, as well as one where children's lives and family life are seen to be at stake. Vital as child protection work is, this book argues that there is a pressing need for change in the understanding and consequent organization of child protection in many English speaking countries. The authors present compelling evidence from around the globe demonstrating that systems across the Western world are failing children, families and social workers. They then set out a radical plan for reform: Providing an overview of contemporary child protection policies and practices across the English speaking world Presenting a clear and innovative theoretical framework for understanding the problems in the child protection system Developing an alternative, ethical framework which locates child protection in the broader context of effective and comprehensive support for children, young people and families at the neighbourhood and community levels Grounded in the recent and contemporary literature, research and scholarly inquiry, this book capitalises on the experiences and voices of children, young people, families and workers who are the most significant stakeholders in child protection. It will be an essential read for those who work, research, teach or study in the area.

Child protection and family support is a major social issue and there is a continuing debate about how policies and practices in relation to child protection integrate with those in family support and child welfare more generally. Prompted in part by the Audit Commission and the publication of the Department of Health Research studies in child protection, it is the key issue facing all child welfare agencies. While it is agreed that there needs to be a "rebalancing" between child protection and family support there is concern amongst managers and practitioners if things go wrong, subjecting them to public inquiry and media contempt. This text brings together a range of researchers and commentators to analyze the nature of the issue and possible ways forward. It draws on recent research case studies; policy makers, managers and practitioners in social work and child welfare agencies.

Over the past few decades, relationships between social workers and the media have become increasingly challenging. Social workers feel aggrieved by media reporting of their profession and believe that journalists lack sufficient knowledge and experience of the social services to report matters adequately and sensitively, whilst some journalists have urged social workers to adopt a more proactive public relations strategy. This book, first published in 1991, analyses the causes and consequences of the negative portrayal of social work within the media and considers various ways in which this image might be improved. The authors consider a variety of developments during the 1990s designed to redress imbalances in media reporting and present a more accurate picture of social workers and the people with whom they work. This title remains very relevant in light of the high profile cases related to the social service that continue to feature in the British press, and will be of particular value to students and researchers with an interest in the relationship between the media and social policy.

This cross-national study provides a comparative analysis of different understandings of errors and mistakes and approaches to dealing with them in child protection practice, using research and knowledge from eleven countries in Europe and North America. Divided into country-specific chapters, each examines the pathways that lead to mistakes happening, the scale of their impact, how responsibilities and responses are decided, how practice and policy subsequently change and the lessons that we can learn.

Child protection is one of the most high profile and challenging areas of social work, as well as one where children's lives and family life are seen to be at stake. Vital as child protection work is, this book argues that there is a pressing need for change in the understanding and consequent organization of child protection in many English speaking countries.

The authors present compelling evidence from around the globe demonstrating that systems across the Western world are failing children, families and social workers. They then set out a radical plan for reform:

• Providing an overview of contemporary child protection policies and practices across the English speaking world
• Presenting a clear and innovative theoretical framework for understanding the problems in the child protection system
• Developing an alternative, ethical framework which locates child protection in the broader context of effective and comprehensive support for children, young people and families at the neighbourhood and community levels

Grounded in the recent and contemporary literature, research and scholarly inquiry, this book capitalises on the experiences and voices of children, young people, families and workers who are the most significant stakeholders in child protection. It will be an essential read for those who work, research, teach or study in the area.

Social Theory, Social Change and Social Work has two inter-related themes. First to account for and analyse current changes in social work and secondly, to assess how far recent developments in social theory can contribute to their interpretation. Representing the work of a range of academics all involved in research and teaching in relation to social work, it considers issues of central significance to everyone interested in the theory, policy, and practice of social work.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203433513

The Candidate Handbook covers all three mandatory units, all group one optional units and sufficient group two optional units for the Certificate, so learners can be sure they have covered the required knowledge for their qualification. Case studies throughout the Candidate Handbook allow learners to apply their understanding to a range of contexts and scenarios. Key term features ensure that learners have a clear understanding of essential concepts which they can apply throughout their course. Portfolio tasks and evidence gathering activities provide guidance for learners when completing assessment work so they can be sure they have all the information they need. Clearly mapped to Functional Skills, Personal Learning and Thinking Skills and the Technical Certificate for Apprenticeship candidates.

"These two authors are always worth reading for their breadth and originality. Their new book offers a timely and stimulating analysis of modern children's services" David Berridge, Professor of Child and Family Welfare, University of Bristol "Clear yet thorough; practical yet politically insightful; complicated yet coherent ... this book will appeal to those who want to get an overview of the territory, but also to those who wish to drill down deeper and understand the theoretical underpinning of government policies" Martin C Calder, Honorary Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam Univeristy This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of children's social care in England following the introduction of Every Child Matters and the 2007 Children's Plan. Up-to-date and accessible, the book examines the key issues surrounding child care policy, politics and legislation, and the implications they have for practice. The book is organised into three sections: - From Children's Departments to Departments of Children's Services analyses the historical and political changes in the children's service since 1948. - Different Service Areas provides a critical review of the main service areas, including safeguarding and child protection. - Current Issues and Future Prospects considers the main challenges and future prospects for children's social care. Essential reading for those studying child social care on programmes in social work, childhood studies and social policy, the book will also interest postgraduates and practitioners in child care.

Child protection systems differ across the four countries of the United Kingdom, and understanding the differences provide important opportunities for learning and improving day-to-day practice. This authoritative book compares UK child protection systems with other systems world-wide as well as scrutinising and comparing the systems in different parts of the UK. Reflecting on the impact of devolution, the authors consider and critically analyse the way child protection systems are being developed, thought about and put into practice in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. An intra-country comparative approach is applied to the main features making up child protection including: policy frameworks, inter-agency guidance, the role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards and Area Child Protection Committees, child deaths and Serious Case Review processes, and vetting and barring legislation and systems. The authors also consider the unique position occupied by England and explore future directions for child protection across the UK. This important book will be of considerable interest to child welfare policy makers, academics, researchers, practitioners and students.

This innovative book explores social work, therapy and counselling as a series of encounters - between clients and human services professionals, social workers, their colleagues and other professionals, and more widely between citizens and the state. Providing a variety of social constructionist perspectives on the idea of the 'client', it presents in-depth discussion of the roles, language and contexts of meetings between social workers and their clients. International contributors present discussion on categorization, analysing identities and reflexive practice. Drawing data from a variety of sources, including meetings, client files and transcribed dialogues with clients, the book employs methods such as conversation and discourse analysis to propose new insights into what it means to be a client of the human services agency. Bringing together a rich variety of data, this volume forms an important contribution to major debates on the nature of social work and counselling. As well as innovative approaches to theory and research, the implications for practice in social work and counselling are discussed. Challenging previously-held notions about clienthood, this book is a useful and thought-provoking resource for social workers, counsellors, policy makers, academics, researchers and students and trainers in social work and counselling.

From Every Child Matters and the Munro Review, to changing shifts in thinking from Coalition government; the child protection system has seen dramatic political and policy developments over recent years. This book brings you a critical analysis of these developments from a leading writer and commentator. It begins by exploring the origins of present-day arrangements, locating English policy and practice in both a wider British and international context. It examines tragic cases such as 'Baby P' and Maria Colwell, considering their impact on public and professional attitudes and, in turn, the implications for the child protection system. Looking to the future of child protection, Nigel Parton considers the current state of the system and argues that we need to address wider social and political issues, including poverty, class and inequality. Original, authoritative and up-to-date, The Politics of Child Protection is an important book for all students, practitioners and researchers interested in safeguarding and child protection.

"These two authors are always worth reading for their breadth and originality. Their new book offers a timely and stimulating analysis of modern children's services" David Berridge, Professor of Child and Family Welfare, University of Bristol "Clear yet thorough; practical yet politically insightful; complicated yet coherent ... this book will appeal to those who want to get an overview of the territory, but also to those who wish to drill down deeper and understand the theoretical underpinning of government policies" Martin C Calder, Honorary Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam Univeristy This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of children's social care in England following the introduction of Every Child Matters and the 2007 Children's Plan. Up-to-date and accessible, the book examines the key issues surrounding child care policy, politics and legislation, and the implications they have for practice. The book is organised into three sections: - From Children's Departments to Departments of Children's Services analyses the historical and political changes in the children's service since 1948. - Different Service Areas provides a critical review of the main service areas, including safeguarding and child protection. - Current Issues and Future Prospects considers the main challenges and future prospects for children's social care. Essential reading for those studying child social care on programmes in social work, childhood studies and social policy, the book will also interest postgraduates and practitioners in child care.

Recent years have witnessed increased international interest in the relevance of social theories associated with postmodernism, social constructionism and narrative approaches for social work. The central aim of this unique book is to demonstrate how such ideas can make a direct and positive contribution to social work practice. The innovative approach is affirmative and reflexive and emphasis is given to dialogue, process and plurality of knowledge and voice. Richly illustrated by case examples, the book is an ideal introduction to a crucially important new area of social work theory.

Drawing on original research, this book provides a major critique of contemporary child protection research, policy and practice. In particular, it challenges current attempts to reorder priorities and reconstruct the balance between family support and child protection. In the process, it provides a unique insight into the nature of child protection work and the way practitioners respond to the inherent tensions and difficulties involved. It is essential reading for anyone interested in this major personal and social issue.

Child Protection Systems is a comparative study of the social policies and professional practices that frame societal responses to the problems of child maltreatment in ten countries: USA, Canada, England, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Norway. Focusing on the developments in policy and practice since the mid-1990s, this volume provides a detailed, up-to-date analysis of the similarities and differences in how child protection systems operate and their outcomes. The findings highlight the changing criteria that define child maltreatment, trends in out-of-home placement, professional responses to allegations of maltreatment, and the level of state responsibility for child and family welfare, providing an in-depth understanding of the different ways modern welfare states assume the sensitive responsibility of balancing children's rights and parents' rights.
The changing character of child protection systems worldwide reflects dramatic and rapid organizational, policy, and legislative changes; the expansion of child welfare systems; the rise of formal procedures and evidence-based initiatives; the increased challenges posed by race and ethnicity; and the extent to which countries adopt either a child protection or a family service approach to child abuse. Each chapter analyzes these developments and the directions in which they are heading, such as movements toward privatization and devolution of child welfare service delivery. Against this backdrop, a third approach begins to emerge-a child-focused orientation-that aims to promote and improve children's development and well-being.
A vital book for understanding contemporary trends and policy issues in the design of child protection systems, this will be must reading for comparative scholars of child welfare, family policy, and the welfare state.

Constructive Work with Offenders offers a challenge to many of the assumptions of criminal justice policy and the dominant approaches to practice. The contributors advocate an emphasis on constructive work with offenders that harnesses their positive strengths and resources, and offers inclusive approaches to effective offender assessment and intervention. Taking a fresh look at much received knowledge, they proclaim that constructive work with offenders is both possible and increasingly warranted, and encourage practitioners to develop new skills and adapt existing expertise to the rapidly changing requirements of the criminal justice system. This book will be of interest to practitioners, trainers, managers, and researchers in the criminal justice system, as well as academics and students in the field of criminology and related disciplines.