Children's Rights in Social Work Practice: Theory, Protection, Participation, and Provision

This book provides a thorough examination of children's rights, focusing on key themes and objectives that contribute to their understanding, implementation, and advocacy.

Written by academics both in the UK and internationally, and with each chapter containing two illustrative case studies, this volume will increase awareness and knowledge among social workers, enhancing professional practice whilst fostering empowerment and addressing systemic issues. Chapters are divided into four main themes: understanding theory that promotes children's rights, protection from harm, participation, and provision of services. Each section delves into the fundamental concept of children's rights, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and highlights the role of social workers in actively promoting and protecting these rights. In doing so, this collection emphasises the importance of safeguarding children, identifying and responding to abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as well as problematising the balancing act of realising children’s rights in the modern context of child welfare.

By providing practical strategies and techniques for promoting and protecting children’s rights, this book serves as a concise and informative resource for practitioners, students, and academics working in the field of social work, as well as scholars of child protection, safeguarding, and social policy more broadly.

Paul McCafferty is Reader of Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Paul has expertise in child welfare, with a strong focus on risk, assessment, and decision-making in social work. His interests extend to evidence-based and informed practices, as well as the acquisition and utilisation of knowledge in the field. He is particularly passionate about children's rights, especially their participation rights within the child welfare system.

Esther Mercado García is a Reader Professor at Complutense University of Madrid in Spain. Her research focuses on social work practice and family welfare, with a particular interest in children´s rights in people with intellectual and learning disabilities and qualitative methods. She has published work on children’s rights and participation, contributing to the development of child-centred approaches in social work, and is involved as deputy-director for the special interest group Children´s Rights in Practice.

Davy Hayes is Professor of Child Protection and Safeguarding at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. His research focuses on service user experiences of child protection, involving children and family members in child protection processes, and the practice and experiences of professionals operating in the child protection system. He is Chair of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Association of Social Workers, and a Board member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

Gerry Marshall is a Lecturer in Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work. His research focuses on children and young people who are looked after, particularly in the context of residential child care, and on identity formation for those growing up in care. Gerry’s work also extends to exploring the use of immersive virtual reality technology as a tool for social work education and training.