The Children Act is a major piece of legislation that affects all professionals working with children. Since the third edition of this book was published in 1996, there have been some important developments. This Fourth Edition takes these developments into consideration. Topics discussed include case law in the superior courts; the establishment of CAFCASS; and the Fostering Services Regulations of 2002; and much more.

"This much-needed book examines the implications of the Every Child Matters (ECM) national and local framework for working with children. It analyses the key issues from the perspective of the different professions that make up the 'new children's workforce' and explores interprofessional considerations." "Offering a clear guide to the implications of Every Child Matters for practice, this book will be widely welcomed by tutors and practitioners alike, enabling readers to make sense of the legislation and national guidance, and to understand better the new agendas for children's services."--BOOK JACKET.

Child Protection is part of an exciting new series from SAGE. Developed as accessible reference tools, SAGE Course Companions offer comprehensive introductions to core subjects, encouraging students to extend their understanding of key concepts, issues and debates. Child Protection offers readers an accessible overview of the core themes in child abuse and child protection, helping readers understand both the theory and practice involved in child protection, as well as enhancing their thinking skills in line with course requirements.

Analysing children's needs is a crucial part of assessment in child protection, yet support for practitioners carrying it out is lacking. Making Sense of Child and Family Assessment provides best practice guidance on how to analyse the information gathered during the assessment of the needs of children and young people and their families. The application of assessment frameworks hinges on human qualities and skills which are naturally prone to bias and inconsistency. This book provides practical, accessible guidance on how to apply assessment frameworks successfully, how to increase accuracy and empathy and how to analyse and represent children's needs faithfully in order to improve outcomes. The author provides an overview of key elements of theory, research and practice, and covers issues such as how information is gathered and analysed by different professionals in different sectors, and how this information is shared; how to form accurate hypotheses about cases; how to develop professional intuition; and how to improve analytical skills. Professionals working in child welfare and protection roles, such as social workers, health visitors, midwives and teachers, will find this practical guide to analysis invaluable in interpreting needs and outcomes. The titles in the Best Practice in Working with Children series are written for the multi-agency professionals working to promote children's welfare and protect them from harm. Each book in the series draws on current research into what works best for children, providing practical, realistic suggestions as to how practitioners in social work, health and education can work together to promote the resilience and safety of the children in their care. Brigid Daniel is Professor of Social Work in the Department of Applied Social Science at the University of Stirling. She is co-author of several textbooks and practice resources on child care and protection. She was a member of the multi-disciplinary team that carried out a national ministerial review of child protection practice in Scotland.

"Making Sense of Children's Drawings is enlivened with the real drawings of seven young children collected over three years. These drawings stimulated dialogues with the children, parents and practitioners whose voices are reported in the book. The book makes an argument for us to rethink radically the role of drawing in young children's construction of meaning, communication and sense of identity. It provides insights into the influence of media and consumerism, as reflected in popular visual imagery, and on gender identity formation in young children. It also offers strong messages about the overemphasis on the three Rs in early childhood education.".