Book review

Title: The Social Workers' Guide to Children and Families
Authors: Lynn Davis
Year: 2008
Edition: 1
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN: 978-1-84310-653-1
Price: £19.99
Reviewer: Richard Williams, Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University
Review date: 25/03/2009

Table of contents and more information about this book

This book is set out in such a way that it can be used to support both lectures and seminars. The kinaesthetic learner will derive considerable benefit from the effort that the author has taken to include practice-related scenarios and concludes each chapter with an effective list of ‘Points for Practice’ that lend themselves to subjects for seminar discussion. The text focuses strongly on the role of the local authority social worker and issues that relate to safeguarding children. The chapter on adoption is particularly good and helps to steer the reader through what is potentially a complex area of legislation.

Part 1 begins with key legislation. The Human Rights Act (1998) is summarised and its impact is discussed. The core components of the Children Act (1989) are introduced e.g. the welfare principle, welfare checklist, concept of harm etc.

Part 2 clarifies the difference between private and public law; section 8 orders, specific issues and prohibited steps are introduced and this is followed by residence, special guardianship and contact. Throughout these pages the author introduces practice related examples into the text and points for practice at the end of each chapter.

Part 3 focuses on the Local Authority’s role in supporting children and families, beginning with an outline of the duties and powers relating to children-in-need and then to accommodation and attendant issues (e.g. discussing the difference between accommodation as support and accommodation as a child protection measure and, crucially, the blurring of the two in practice).

Part 4 concentrates on child protection and begins with investigation and then moves on to emergency action e.g. police protection orders and includes useful practice-related discussion e.g. as to what constitutes an emergency.

Part 5 introduces care proceedings.  Threshold criteria are discussed in relative depth and this is followed by interim stages of care proceedings, care orders and care plans.

Part 6 focuses on adoption and this continues to be enhanced by links to practical examples and points for practice

I will use this book to assist my teaching on the undergraduate social work programme – in both the first level Law and Social Policy unit and the second level Safeguarding in Children’s Services unit. I shall include the book as a core text for the Law unit and as recommended reading for the Safeguarding Children unit. It is an easily assessable work that will quickly develop a student’s knowledge after their initial introduction to law and social policy.

The book advertises itself as ‘jargon free’ and this is a fair reflection of the text. The use of footnotes is effective, including the pointers to other chapters. The lists of statutes and cases are easily accessible and the cases are particularly suitable for  incorporation into teaching.

Readers may find the lack of focus upon social work values an area of weakness when considering whether to use the book in undergraduate teaching. It would have been helpful to have more included on the legislation pertinent to looked-after children e.g. Children (Leaving Care) Act (2000) and, in its incantation as a Bill, the Children and Young Person’s Act (2008). Nevertheless, the practice focus of the text is such that it recommends itself beyond academic learning and into the remit of the Newly Qualified Social Worker.

In conclusion; I liked the book, particularly its ability to make the link between legislation and practice. It makes a useful contribution to the available texts.