Signs of safety - Andrew Turnell

It focuses on the
question, "How can child protection
professionals actually build partnerships with
parents where there is suspected or
substantiated child abuse or neglect?"The authors bring the solution orientation to child
protection work, expanding the investigation of
risk to encompass signs of safety that can be
built upon to stabilize and strengthen the
child's and family's situation. The philosophy behind this approach is clearly articulated
through ten practice principles that serve as
guiding beacons for child protection workers as
they traverse the rough waters of abuse and
neglect investigation.Child protection workers are involved with vulnerable, at-risk children in potentially volatile situations. Here they will
find a new child protection assessment and
planning protocol that allows for comprehensive
risk assessment incorporating both danger and
safety and the perspectives of both
professionals and service recipients (parents).
The authors provide practical, hands-on
strategies for building a partnership with
parents, which may, in the long run, prevent
abuse and family dissolution. They illustrate
these strategies in cases showing the subtle
process of integrating the seemingly opposite
notions of coercion and
cooperation.Respectful, optimistic, and highly practical, this book promises to revitalize and
redirect child protection services.