The Child Protection Handbook

The Child Protection Handbook, Fourth Edition explains how to recognise abuse and how to protect children and young people at risk of abuse. The book is aimed at students and practitioners in safeguarding roles, including those working in social care, health, criminal justice, education, sport and leisure.

Since the last edition in 2007, the Handbook has been fully revised and updated to reflect not only the current legal and policy frameworks that govern statutory child protection intervention in the UK but also the impacts of new technology. It offers a comprehensive overview of the contexts which frame child protection – including organisational issues, children’s rights, the needs of those from diverse backgrounds and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on child protection work – as well as explaining how to stay alert to the various forms of abuse and maltreatment which children and young people may experience.

With accessible, up-to-date information presented in an easy-to-navigate format, the Handbook is ideal for all those wanting to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. All concepts are explained in straightforward, jargon-free language and the Handbook is equally effective when read cover-to-cover or used as a reference book.

Key chapter features

• Illustrative boxes drawing on practice examples to highlight issues and dilemmas
• Key points to encourage the reader to think about their practice and apply new knowledge
• Reflective questions to check understanding and explore concepts further
• Links to resources and further reading

• Supporting social workers in child protection practice
• Poverty and child protection
• ‘New’ forms of child abuse, including: technology-assisted child sexual abuse; child sexual exploitation; gangs and criminal exploitation; radicalisation; forced marriage of children and young people; female genital mutilation; and faith-based abuse
• Focus on teenagers, including: child protection in adolescence; leaving care; safeguarding children in conflict with the law; children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour; and child-to-parent violence and abuse
• Safeguarding in sport and leisure
• Working with parents at risk of repeat removal of children through care proceedings