Challenging Child Protection offers a ground-breaking new perspective which will illuminate and improve the professional understanding and practice of social workers and child protection workers. Taking a fresh look at the principles underlying child protection, this book provides a thought-provoking analysis of the evidence base which underpins professional understanding and intervention. It outlines the ways in which agencies have worked to prevent child abuse and neglect and traces key changes in UK policy, as well as situating these amid wider trends in Europe. With contributions from a wide variety of disciplines, including philosophy and anthropology, this is a uniquely diverse collection of academic perspectives. This book challenges our conceptions of child protection and encourages readers to think critically about why children are harmed by adults, how society views child abuse and how this informs practice.

Based on both research and practice, this book provides a comprehensive picture of the success, fairness and significance of child protection services for children, parents and individuals. It approaches the problem of child abuse from the various perspectives of those affected (abused children and young people, parents and professionals) and provides information on the characteristics of those who sexually abuse children, including a discussion of the origins of exploitative sexuality. In addition, the authors look at how professionals are responding to or failing to respond to child abuse, multi-disciplinary collaboration, the benefits and shortcomings of prevention and self-help and the changing legal context within which they work as they illustrate the need to develop policies and practices which recognise the importance of protecting children who have been harmed as well as the significance of preventing such harm occurring.