Learning from Child Deaths and Serious Abuse in Scotland

High profile child deaths and significant abuse cases have been a significant driver for reform of child protection policy in the UK. Whilst there is a wealth of information on child deaths and significant abuse cases in England and Wales there is far less published information available in Scotland. Sharon Vincent addresses this gap. Drawing on findings from a review of high profile child death and abuse cases which resulted in inquiries or reviews in Scotland over the period 1975 to 2008 Dr Vincent extracts the key themes whilst she reviews and assesses the impact these cases have had on child protection policy and considers what we can learn from such cases. Child deaths and significant abuse cases in the home, as well as cases where children have been killed or abused outside the home, are considered. Intended as a resource for those who are training to work with children and young people and their families; for those working in children's services in Scotland and for academics and policy makers this volume provides an invaluable oversight to the origins of the UK's child protection policies.

Dr Sharon Vincent is Research Fellow, Child Protection at the University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Centre for UK-wide Learning in Child Protection (CLiCP).