Why has the language of the child and of child protection become so
hegemonic? What is lost and gained by such language? Who is being
protected, and from what, in a risk society? Given that the focus is
overwhelmingly on those families who are multiply deprived, do services
reinforce or ameliorate such deprivations? And is it ethical to remove
children from their parents in a society riven by inequalities? This
timely book challenges a child protection culture that has become mired
in muscular authoritarianism towards multiply deprived families. It
calls for family-minded humane practice where children are understood as
relational beings, parents are recognized as people with needs and hopes
and families as carrying extraordinary capacities for care and
protection. The authors, who have over three decades of experience as
social workers, managers, educators and researchers in England, also
identify the key ingredients of just organizational cultures where
learning is celebrated. This important book will be required reading for
students on qualifying and post-qualifying courses in child protection,
social workers, managers, academics and policy makers.