Safeguarding babies and very young children is a highly complex process, involving difficult decisions surrounding their needs, care, and whether they need to be separated from their families.

This book, based on a research study which followed babies who were identified as likely to suffer significant harm before their first birthdays until they were three years old, explores key issues surrounding the safeguarding process. These include how the decision whether to remove children from their families are made, whether social work interventions work and the impact they have on children's life pathways. It also examines the role various participants, including parents, have in decision-making. The findings of the study show a close link between decisions, maltreatment and children's developmental problems, and provide key implications and recommendations for policy and practice.

This significant book will be essential reading for all those involved in safeguarding children, including practitioners and policymakers, academics and researchers.


Safeguarding Children Across Services brings together the latest evidence on safeguarding children from abuse and neglect. Providing an overview of 15 research projects, it addresses the key policy and practice issues across health, social care and education services and the family justice system.

The authors set out the latest findings on identification of abuse and neglect, methods of prevention, general interventions, and specific interventions for families with additional or complex needs. They examine the evidence on effective inter-agency practice and how it can be improved. Each chapter ends with principal messages for policy and practice.

Providing a critical account of policy, systems and practice, this book is essential reading for anyone who needs the latest guidance in relation to safeguarding children, including policymakers, social workers, professionals in health care and the family justice system and other practitioners working with children.