The Common-Sense Guide to Improving the Safeguarding of Children

Introduction. Terminology. 1. Background and Current Environment. 1.1. The level of need and risk. 1.2. Lessons which have been identified. 1.3. Attempts to address these lessons. 1.4. The context of safeguarding. 1.5. The current environment. 1.6. Conclusion: Developing direct effective safeguarding. 2. Step One: Establish a Culture which Enables and Leads. 2.1. Ensuring that the best interests of children are met. 2.2. Developing learning and positive change. 2.3. Developing healthy and effective relationships. 2.4. Styles of authority. 2.5. Responsibility and accountability. 2.6. Clarity of purpose and performance management. 2.7. Summary of Step One. 3. Step Two: Develop a Stable, Skilled and Confident Workforce. 3.1. Emotional challenges, dilemmas and conflicts. 3.2. Supporting and developing practitioners. 3.3. Practitioner capabilities. 3.4. Manager capability. 3.5. Ensuring safety of practitioners. 3.6. Developing relationships with partner agencies. 3.7. Summary of Step Two. 4. Step Three: Enable Families to Change. 4.1. Continuous evaluation of risks and solutions. 4.2. Effective approaches with families. 4.3. Working with children. 4.4. Summary of Step Three. Appendix A: Checklist for social workers appraisal based on the PCF capabilities. Appendix B. Additional skill areas for managers. Appendix C. managing incidents of unacceptable behaviour. Appendix D. Contents of letters to families to clarify the nature and expectations of involvement. References.

Terry McCarthy has done his colleagues in the social work field a great service by distilling and reflecting on his many years working to protect children who are subject to abusive parenting. In the introduction he reflects on having considered calling his book the 'Journey to Oz', thinking of the qualities Dorothy and her companions needed to reach their goal - 'brain' to have the knowledge and skill to think through what needs to be done, 'heart' to ensure it is done with integrity, and 'courage' to make it happen in the face of fear , uncertainty and resistance. Terry McCarthy advocates a series of incremental 'common sense' steps to achieve improvement, rather than attempting large scale re-organisation. Although the title of this book includes the notion of 'common sense', Dorothy and her companions would recognise the qualities 'brain', 'heart' and 'courage' applied by Terry McCarthy in developing this valuable guide which could improve the lives of our most disadvantaged children.