Child Neglect

Brigid Daniel is Professor of Social Work at the University of Stirling. She is the co-author of a number of books on child care and protection and has a particular interest in factors that help children to cope with adversity. She was a member of the multi-disciplinary team that carried out a national ministerial review of child protection practice in Scotland.

• Foreword, Olive Stevenson, University of Nottingham. 1. Introduction to Issues for Health and Social Care in Neglect, Brigid Daniel, University of Dundee. 2. Economic, Cultural and Social Contexts of Neglect, Nick Spencer, University of Warwick and Norma Baldwin, University of Dundee. 3. Research for Practice in Child Neglect, David Gough, Social Science Research Unit, University of London. 4. The Nature of Emotional Child Neglect and Abuse, Brian Minty, University of Manchester. 5. Is this Child Neglect? The Influence of Differences in Perceptions of Child Neglect on Social Work Practice, Jan Horwath, University of Sheffield. 6. Working Together in Cases of Neglect: Key Issues, Olive Stevenson. 7. Neglect: No Monopoly on Expertise. Helen Buckley, University of Dublin. 8. Common Operational Approach using the `Graded Care Profile' in Cases of Neglect, Om Prakash Svrivastava, Consultant Community Paediatrician, Janice Stewart, Child Protection for Luton and Bedfordshire and University of Luton, Richard Fountain, Luton Social Services, and Patrick Ayre, University of Luton. 9. Serious Case Reviews: Lessons for Practice in Cases of Child Neglect, Renuka Jeyaraja Dent, NCH - The Bridge, and Christine Cocker, Middlesex University and NCH - The Bridge. 10. What is Weight Faltering (`Failure to Thrive') and When Does it Become a Child Protection Issue? Charlotte M. Wright, University of Glasgow. 11. The Theoretical and Practical Issues in Attachment and Neglect: The Case of Very Low Birth Weight Infants, Gill Watson and Julie Taylor, University of Dundee. 12. Parental Substance Misuse and the Implications for Children: Lessons from Research and Practice in One Family Centre, Moira Walker, University of Stirling and Mary Glasgow, Service Manager. 13. Neglect of Disabled Children, Margaret Kennedy and Jane Wonnacott, Independent Trainers and Consultants. 14. Who Cares? The Role of Mothers in Cases of Child Neglect, Danielle Turney, Open University. 15. Do They Care? The Role of Fathers in Cases of Child Neglect, Brigid Daniel and Julie Taylor. 16. Intervening with Neglect, Geraldine Macdonald, Commission for Social Care Inspection. 17. Neglect in Theory and Practice: The Messages for Health and Social Care, Julie Taylor and Brigid Daniel. Appendix One: The Outline Format for Comprehensive Assessment. Appendix Two: Worksheets. The Contributors. The Contributors. References. Indexes.

Another very successful chapter in this respect is that on parental substance misuse co-written by a researcher, Moira Walker, and a services manager, Mary Glasgow. Its "messages for practice" in relation to assessment, working with parents and working with primary-aged children is among the best I have read in this complex and under-researched area. Given the alarming prevalence or parental substance dependence, which now constitutes the single greatest challenge in the field of child protection, this chapter is most welcome. For the challenges facing us in relation to child neglect are enormous, but the comprehensive and cross - disciplinary approach of this book, with its strong emphasis on research and its respect for practice, is a source of hope.