The branding of children as "witches", capable of harming others is a widespread practice in some countries in Africa and across the world. There is evidence of this within specific communities and faith groups; however, the extent to which this phenomenon occurs in England is unclear as is the response by childcare professionals,…

The 1970s heralded the beginnings of a major shift in focus within child care social work in the United Kingdom, and the preventive, family support approach that had characterised practice since the 1940s was gradually, but decisively, replaced by a central concern with child abuse. This paper outlines the rise and dominance of child protection…

Reviews 17 publications covering a variety of topics including abused disabled children; child placement; helping attachment disordered children; open adoption; family empowerment; teenage fostering; the Children Act of 1989 (Great Britain); family law; social services and child care law; and challenging racism in the early years. (TJQ)

Identifies and analyzes central tensions and themes that characterize child protection policy in England and Wales. Outlines conflicting messages that have been prevalent in debates about child abuse since the early 1980s. Analyzes in detail the 1989 Children Act, the 1991 Criminal Justice Act, Working Together (1991), and the Memorandum of Good…

In the United Kingdom, professionals are not legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse. The Children Act (1989) specified that local authorities have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children, but did not make reporting mandatory. It identified specific tasks for teachers in the process of reporting and established joint…

Argues that the voices of those who have been abused in residential care need to be considered in research on child abuse in residential settings. Considers the high percentage of child perpetrators, the focus on child control and restraint rather than development, and the potential dangers of dominant, charismatic leaders, and politically…