Children in Need of Support: Focus on Social Work Law

Citation

Westwood J (2014) Children in Need of Support: Focus on Social Work Law. Focus on Social Work Law. Basingstock. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/children-in-need-of-support-joanne-westwood/?K=9781137286581

Abstract
This book discusses the legislation as it relates to children in need of support. It is designed to assist students and practitioners to understand how the legislation and policy governs social work practice with children in need. The College of Social Work in their Curriculum Guide (Bray and Preston-Shoot 2013) to social work law stipulate that a focus on law should be maintained throughout social work training and not simply located in one module and as such this book is designed to be used across social work training and in the immediate post qualifying professional development phase. There is much uncertainty in social work practice with children, young people, and their families. As in other areas of social work, interventions and support regarding children in need is governed by practice guidance and legislation. When social work comes under scrutiny and is accused of failing to protect or intervene, as illustrated in high profile cases such as the death of Peter Connolly in 2007, or Daniel Pelka in 2012 the media, politicians and other public commentators raise questions about how abuse or harm was missed, and how it could have been prevented. Much social work in practice with children and their families begins with assessing needs. The categorisation of children as being in need requires a different approach and emphasis than is found in the risk identification, assessment and management that characterises child protection and child safeguarding work.

Keywords
Children in Need; child care legislation