Written for professionals, this text examines the complex nature of child sexual abuse cases and current social work practice, exploring the problems encountered by local authority social workers who are required to intervene in families to protect children. Using material from 40 case stduies, Brian Corby describes how the cases were referred in the light of the Cleveland recommendations, and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the response of the statutory welfare agencies. He also studies the historical background to child protection, and the curious ambivalence of society's attitude to cases of child sexual abuse.;The text argues for greater co-operation between agencies and recommends focusing upon providing more serious resources for treatment of children and families rather than concentrating exclusively on criminality and the risk to children.