Reflective Practice in Care Proceedings and with Looked After Children

The decision to remove a child from their family of origin will have life-long consequences for the child, and it is therefore not one that is taken lightly. Complicated decisions both during court proceedings and afterwards must be made by those working with children, and the importance of best practice guidance is paramount. This book considers the complexities of practice in public family law court proceedings and with children looked after by the state. Case examples form the heart of each chapter, covering the difficult decisions that have to be made such as when to initiate care proceedings, what type of substitute care is appropriate and contact or reunification with birth families. Central to the book is the importance of applying reflective practice, and the case examples demonstrate how this can be done in the reality of everyday situations in order to promote positive outcomes for children. This is a timely and essential book for all those working with looked after children and those involved in care proceedings, including social workers, lawyers, psychologists and related professionals, and will also be invaluable to social work students.
This series takes a practice-led, reflective approach to key areas of work in social care. Books in the series tackle the complexities and dilemmas that practitioners face every day, by using a series of case examples. Each book focuses on a different area of social work, including vulnerable children, looked after children and mental health. The discussion within each book is built around case studies, in order to give clear examples of how an integrated knowledge base can be applied to practice. This series is essential reading for all post-qualifying social work students and social work practitioners.