This book draws from moral philosophy, social policy, the humanities, sociology, systems theory,psycho-social studies and the authors’ research on systems and the lived experiences of those involved with current child protection processes to challenge current directions in child protection policy and practice. It examines the language and frameworks used and addresses how they have hollowed out important moral and political issues of suffering and shame in their neglect of questions such as the following: Why do we use the language of the individual child and of child protection? What is lost ... More

This book draws from moral philosophy, social policy, the humanities, sociology, systems theory,psycho-social studies and the authors’ research on systems and the lived experiences of those involved with current child protection processes to challenge current directions in child protection policy and practice. It examines the language and frameworks used and addresses how they have hollowed out important moral and political issues of suffering and shame in their neglect of questions such as the following: Why do we use the language of the individual child and of child protection? What is lost and gained by such a language? Who is being protected, and from what, in a risk society? Given that the focus is overwhelmingly on those families who are multiply deprived, do services reinforce or ameliorate such deprivations? Is it ethically desirable to focus on rescuing children and leaving their parents behind in a society riven by inequalities? Why are relationships between men and women as parents and partners so poorly understood and subject to so little rigorous attention? This book challenges the child protection paradigm dominant in many countries and asks critical questions in order to expose its individualist and riskaverse focus. It argues for humane, family focused, neighbourhood based practices in order to offer a more socially just settlement for children and their families.