Offering a systematic approach to evidence-based assessment and planning for children living with trauma and family violence, this practical book shows how to assess and analyse the needs of the child, make specialist assessments where there are continuing safeguarding concerns (using the Assessment Framework) and plan effective child-centred and outcome-focused interventions. The authors analyse the impact of exposure to a climate of trauma and family violence on a child's bioneurological development and on their capacity to form attachments and to develop and reflect on relationships through childhood and adolescence into adulthood. They bring together the assessment of children in need with the evaluation of significant harm and risk, and potential for rehabilitation, and also explore the application of evidence-based approaches to intervention. This book is an essential tool for all front-line practitioners working with child protection, including social workers, child and adolescent mental health practitioners, police officers, probation workers and domestic violence organizations. It is also suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and post-qualifying students.

The second edition of Deciding Children’s Futures addresses the thorny task of assessing parents and children who belong to struggling families where there are issues of neglect or significant harm, and when separating parents are contesting arrangements for the care of their children in the family court. This practitioner’s guide discusses how to create relationships and pose questions that breach natural parental defences to understand their histories, anxieties, and needs. Drawing on practice knowledge, theory, and research findings, it integrates the accounts of parents and children with safeguarding imperatives and government guidance, to enable informed decisions that positively impact children’s futures. Chapters address issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, mental health difficulties and learning disabilities, Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) abuse, and alienation of children, and encourage readers to consider the impact of their own values, histories, and beliefs on the assessment process. This edition is completely updated to reflect all the factors that have impacted assessments for the family court, including updates to case law and procedure rules, devolution of governments, and updates to DSM and ICD diagnostic categories. Providing a comprehensive understanding of assessment for the family court, this user-friendly volume will be of great interest to expert witnesses, social workers, mental health professionals, solicitors, and anyone working in the family court system.

Rev. ed. of: The child's world: assessing children in need. 2001.

Emotional maltreatment is widespread and has a profoundly harmful effect on a child's development. The effects of abuse are often carried into adulthood, and emotionally abused children are more likely to experience a range of problems as adults. This book sets out to identify 'what works' in preventing emotional maltreatment from recurring.

`An excellent guide for therapists working with traumatised abused children.'---Amanda Shea Hart, PhD, Child and Family Specialist, Adelaide, South Australia --

This definitive textbook provides accessible information on best practice for assessing the needs and strengths of vulnerable children and their families. It explores the challenges that practitioners face routinely - with suggestions as to how to address them - as well as the established areas for assessment, of children's developmental needs, parenting ability and motivation, and socio-economic factors. This new edition has been extended substantially to include recent practice, policy and theoretical developments, such as understanding the lived experience of children, young people, and family members. It also considers children's neurological development, assessing parental capacity to change, early help assessments, emerging areas of practice such as child sexual exploitation, and working with asylum-seeking and trafficked children. Crucially, this updated edition takes a broader approach in offering relevant information to a range of professionals working with vulnerable children. The importance of inter-professional working is emphasised throughout.

The Child Protection Handbook explains how to recognise abuse and protect at-risk children for those working with children and young people aged under 18, including in social care, education, health services, and sport and leisure settings. The book has been fully updated to incorporate the impact of new technology as well as current legal and policy frameworks that govern statutory child protection intervention in the UK. It considers all aspects of child protection, including organisational issues, children's rights, the needs of those from diverse backgrounds, and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on child protection work. With accessible, up-to-date information presented in an easy-to-navigate format, the Handbook is ideal for all busy practitioners wanting to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. - Fully updated since the last edition in 2007 – perfect for all those working with children and young people - Easy to navigate and locate information – suitable as a reference book for busy practitioners - Illustrative boxes in each chapter, drawing on practice case examples to highlight current issues and dilemmas - All concepts explained in straightforward, jargon-free language - Reflective points to encourage the reader to think about their own practice and apply new knowledge - Key questions for students and teachers to check understanding and to explore concepts further - Links to resources and further reading - Supporting social workers in child protection practice - Poverty and child protection - New forms of child abuse, including technology assisted child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, gangs and criminal exploitation, radicalisation, forced marriage of children and young people, female genital mutilation, and faith-based abuse - Focus on teenagers, including child protection in adolescence, leaving care, safeguarding and children in conflict with the law, children and young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour, and child to parent violence and abuse - Safeguarding in sport and leisure - Working with parents at risk of repeat removal of their children through care proceedings