Child Protection and Family SupportEdition 1

Child protection and family support is a major social issue and there is a continuing debate about how policies and practices in relation to child protection integrate with those in family support and child welfare more generally. Prompted in part by the Audit Commission and the publication of the Department of Health Research studies in Child Protection, it is the key issue facing all child welfare agencies. While it is agreed that there needs to be a rebalancing between child protection and family support there is a real fear amongst managers and practitioners if things go wrong, subjecting them to public inquiry and media contempt. Child Protection and Family Support brings together a range of distinguished researchers and commentators to analyze the nature of the issue and possible ways forward. It draws on recent research case studies; policy makers, managers and practitioners in social work and child welfare agencies.