First published in 1998, this book sets out to shed sociological light upon the much under-researched realm of day-to-day child care practice. The text broke new ground when first published in 1987 and there have been few, if any, similar books that adopt an ethnographic approach to statutory child care practice. A second edition would still 'speak' to this rarely analysed occupational world. However, it would enjoy greater resonance when up-dated with practitioner viewpoints on the extent...

Published in 1998, the aim of this book is to identify and explore key themes and issues around the realm of welfare practice in child and family social work - that is, family centre services and related community-based types of provision. The text addresses the impact and effectiveness of family centres in supporting children, families and communities. Emphasis is placed on community based supportive/preventive family services and those that provide a closed access and therapeutic service...

Maintaining a balance between managing and assessing risk and upholding the required high standards of practice in health and social care can be demanding, particularly in the current climate of increased preoccupation with the difficult tensions between rights, protection and risk-taking.Good Practice in Assessing Risk is a comprehensive guide to good practice for those working with risk, covering a wide variety of health, social care and criminal justice settings including child ...

Andy Pithouse and Alyson Rees use original research to identify key ingredients needed to help create successful foster placements and help prevent placement breakdown.In this study the lives and activities of 10 foster families who provide lasting and effective care are examined. The families' everyday world of meanings, negotiations, activities, settings, rituals and relationships that help to create these successful placements, are explored. The authors identify the main compone...