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Since the key developments that policy and research have undergone over the course of the past years, meeting the specific needs of looked after children is a priority for modern social work policy and practice. This comprehensive text combines an accessible overview of statutory policy and legislation with analysis of core theories and interventions to provide a guide for effective practice with children in all care settings by: - Covering legislation as well as research-based analysis of the key interventions and practice methods in the field - Meeting market needs: students and practitioners struggle with the dearth of specific material on looked after children - this text supports them in a core component of social work study and practice - Consolidating learning through its use of reflective questions, case studies, exercises and research analysis This book offers an accessible overview of the care context in Britain and is essential reading for students and practitioners wishing to develop effective practice within childcare

Drawing on a case study generated as part of a larger evaluation, this article explores engagement between one family and an 'edge of care' intensive family support service, within a cold climate of public spending cuts and rising numbers of children in care. The focus on engagement in the case study illustrates theories about relationship building at the 'edge of care': the importance of an empathic relationship; harnessing parents' agency for change while raising child welfare concerns; allowing parents space to maintain a positive self-conception of parenthood while supporting improvements; and engagement with family practices. The case study highlights that, despite the potential disciplinary aspects of intensive family support, the parents valued the 'edge of care' service because it provided them with the help they felt they needed, contrasting with their prior experience of statutory child welfare agency practice.