Child Welfare Policy and Practice - Issues and Lessons Emerging from Current Research explores the implications of recent research for all those concerned with child welfare and social work. It addresses the present concerns as expressed by Government bodies and central Government enquiries regarding the services and policies relating to children in need of care and attention.

The book deals with social care issues that are common within the UK as well as covering specific aspects of Scottish and Irish child welfare. The current areas of concern covered by the contributors include:

the development of children's service plans

operationalisation of recent child care legislation

management of the transition of young people with disabilities from childhood to adulthood

use of live video links with child witnesses.

The book also discusses the results of a long term, follow-up study of twenty years duration of failure-to-thrive children.

In conclusion the book puts forward recommendations for influencing future policy and practice in child care. It is essential reading for social work students, social work policy-makers, day care and social workers, teachers, doctors, lawyers and psychologists.

Contributions by: Moira Borland, Gwyneth Doherty-Sneddon, Kathryn Higgins, Patrick McCrystal, Bernadette Monaghan, Marina Monteith, Andrew Percy, Satnam Singh, Kay Tisdall, Suzanne Wheelaghan