Since the key developments that policy and research have undergone over the course of the past years, meeting the specific needs of looked after children is a priority for modern social work policy and practice. This comprehensive text combines an accessible overview of statutory policy and legislation with analysis of core theories and interventions to provide a guide for effective practice with children in all care settings by: - Covering legislation as well as research-based analysis of the key interventions and practice methods in the field - Meeting market needs: students and practitioners struggle with the dearth of specific material on looked after children - this text supports them in a core component of social work study and practice - Consolidating learning through its use of reflective questions, case studies, exercises and research analysis This book offers an accessible overview of the care context in Britain and is essential reading for students and practitioners wishing to develop effective practice within childcare.

This practical book looks at the experiences of children in need who live in state care and the social worker′s role in working with them. This is a popular guide to this complex and demanding area of practice. There are chapters on communication and children′s rights, life story work, attachment and culture, ethnicity and faith. Throughout the book there are sections on supporting legislation and policy for children in residential care, foster care, adoption and leaving care. Key features include: Practical links between theory and practice Includes law and policy relevant to looked-after children Information on understanding statistics Contains lots of practical activities

This book is concerned with how social workers and managers can engage reflectively and proactively with changes in children's services. Vicky White and John Harris have drawn together the contributors' experiences of working with children in a broad range of settings, emphasising ways in which the current context of change can be used as an opportunity to enhance the quality of service provision and achieve better outcomes for children and their families. The authors examine approaches to the assessment of children in need and the analysis of risk, and consider the impact of poverty and social divisions on children's lives. Highlighting key concepts, such as community development and multi-agency interventions, they anticipate likely policy developments for the future. Examples are provided of the planning and implementation of new initiatives including: · preventive education to protect children · positive reinforcement of children's cultural heritage · therapeutic approaches to sexually inappropriate behaviour · training programmes for foster carers. The real-life material on which the book draws can be used as source material by students undertaking qualifying programmes in health, social care and social work and by more experienced professionals to reflect on their own practice, particularly if they are undertaking post-qualifying courses – a timely resource for all staff and students seeking to develop good practice in children's services.

Providing support for practitioners and leaders at all levels in education, this book discusses why there is a need to rethink how we provide support for looked after children and young people in a positive way that will encourage a path into education, training, or employment when they leave school.

Comprehensive in its coverage, the text examines the core areas of childcare practice, considering the various strengths and weaknesses of both policy and practice. With an emphasis on reflective practice, this text is insightful reading for all those studying childcare from advanced undergraduate level upwards.