Reforming Child Protection

Child protection is one of the most high profile and challenging areas of social work, as well as one where children’s lives and family life are seen to be at stake. Vital as child protection work is, this book argues that there is a pressing need for change in the understanding and consequent organization of child protection in many English speaking countries.

The authors present compelling evidence from around the globe demonstrating that systems across the Western world are failing children, families and social workers. They then set out a radical plan for reform:

• Providing an overview of contemporary child protection policies and practices across the English speaking world
• Presenting a clear and innovative theoretical framework for understanding the problems in the child protection system
• Developing an alternative, ethical framework which locates child protection in the broader context of effective and comprehensive support for children, young people and families at the neighbourhood and community levels

Grounded in the recent and contemporary literature, research and scholarly inquiry, this book capitalises on the experiences and voices of children, young people, families and workers who are the most significant stakeholders in child protection. It will be an essential read for those who work, research, teach or study in the area.

Bob Lonne is a senior lecturer at the School of Social Work and Applied Human Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.

Nigel Parton is NSPCC Professor in Applied Childhood Studies in the Centre of Applied Childhood Studies at the University of Huddersfield, UK.

Jane Thomson is Head of the School of Social Work and Community Welfare at James Cook University, Australia, and the North Queensland Director on the National Board of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Maria Harries is Associate Professor in the School of Social and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia, Australia.