Social work with children and families

Abstract

Social work with children and families raises public and professional concern. Inquiries into the fatal non-accidental injury and sexual abuse of children highlight the need for sound child-care decisionmaking and effective interagency and interdisciplinary collaboration, and for the child’s best interests to have paramountcy at all times. From the mid-1970s in the UK, public accountability demanded and influenced the shape of social work services with children and their families, giving rise to an emphasis on investigation and surveillance mediated through detailed procedural guidance in local authorities and some voluntary agencies. Since 1990, major changes in child and family law have been enacted throughout the UK, leading to a greater emphasis on parental responsibility and ascertaining children’s views.