Safeguarding Black Children : Good Practice in Child Protection

Providing an exploration of the key issues, this book offers practical advice on how to improve the safeguarding and welfare of black children and young people in need.

With contributions from academics, researchers and practitioners, it promotes an understanding of the particular cultural and social issues that affect black children in relation to child protection. It highlights how race and racism, as well as culture, faith and gender, can influence the ways need and risk are interpreted and responded to. Drawing on insights from research evidence, case examples and practice guidelines, it outlines the range of factors that contribute to the vulnerability of black children and describes how to improve techniques of working with minority ethnic families. The book covers issues such as the effects of parental mental health problems, living with domestic violence, child maltreatment, and demonstrates how these might be understood differently for black children and young people. There are also chapters on topics such as female genital mutilation, witchcraft and forced marriage.

Essential reading for all social workers and child protection workers, as well as students and support managers, Safeguarding Black Children provides the tools and understanding needed to better support these children.

Claudia Bernard is Professor of Social Work and Head of Postgraduate Research in the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Perlita Harris is Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Convenor of the BA in Social Work in the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. Both Claudia and Perlita have published extensively in this field.

Ravinder Barn is Professor of social policy and social work at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research interests are race, ethnicity, and welfare. More specifically: children public care; fostering and adoption; care leavers; adolescent well-being; ethnicity, gender and health and social care; parenting in diverse communities; and the youth justice system.