Book

Child Abuse Review (2011)Published online in Wiley Online Library(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/car.1176

Child Development for Child Care and Protection Workers2nd Edition by Brigid Daniel, Sally Wassell and Robbie Gilligan,Jessica Kingsley, London, 2010, 281pp. ISBN 978‐1‐84905‐068‐5‐(Pbk), £19.99, E‐book £14.39

ReviewEdited byMarjorie Keys

‘The bookemphasises that eachchild is an individualwith potential, and thepractitioner’s task isto effect interventionsthat will realise this’

‘Excellent advice onhow to assess thequality of theparenting/caregivingrelationship’

As a lecturer in child care practice on both qualifying and post‐qualifying programmes, I have consistently drawn upon thematerial in the original edition of this book in order to equip childcare practitioners with an understanding of how to promoteresilience and address the adverse circumstances that childrenmay be experiencing. The most recent Working Together (HMGovernment, 2010) advises practitioners that in responding toconcerns about a child’s safety and welfare they need to explorethe relationship between resilience and vulnerability and theimpact that the child’s environment can have on his/her well‐being.Thus, I very much welcome the publication of a revised secondedition of the book, which reflects the policy changes since itsoriginal publication in 1999 but retains its applicability topractice. In his foreword, David Howe clearly emphasises thesignificance of this text to practitioners as they are in a position toassess and influence the environment in which children live. Thebook emphasises that each child is an individual with potential,and the practitioner’s task is to effect interventions that willrealise this.The opening chapter introduces the reader to the theories of

attachment and ecological systems, both of which permeate thesubsequent chapters, and also to the ‘resilience matrix’ and anexploration of how this simple but very powerful tool can helppractitioners to develop a new insight into children and youngpeople. Many students have found the matrix to be an excellentcomplement to the Assessment Triangle (Department of Health,2000). Both Chapters Two and Three explore in more detail theimportance of attachment and ecological systems theories tounderstanding a child’s development and presenting behaviour.Chapter Three also provides the practitioner with excellent adviceon how to assess the quality of the parenting/caregiving relation-ship. The ‘resilience matrix’ is developed further in Chapter Four,where the focus is on the intrinsic characteristics of the child atdifferent ages. The authors provide highly stimulating exercises tohelp practitioners critically reflect on their practice.The other continuum of the matrix, the child’s external

environment, is explored in more detail in Chapter Five with afocus on the concept of risk. The authors rightly observe that theassessment of risk ‘should feel challenging’ and, once again,provide a pertinent activity to help practitioners reappraise theirwork.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘The continuingstrength of this text isthat it synthesisesknowledge of childdevelopment with thedaily realities for childcare practitioners’

Book Review

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The next three chapters focus on child development at threesignificant stages: early years, school years and adolescence. Theauthors encourage the reader to consider the impact of relation-ships and life events on the child’s development and individualneeds. Chapter Eight retains the excellent case study from theoriginal book to stimulate discussion on the issues raised earlier inthe book, while the final chapter revisits key themes from thepreceding chapters, in particular the issue of loss and thesignificance of secure attachments. In addition, this final chapterreiterates the importance of the child’s social context and the factthat as practitioners we can positively influence this.Overall, the revisions to the original text are excellent; however,

I was disappointed to discover that the three appendices, eachoffering a framework for assessment in particular contexts, are nolonger present. I would have welcomed a similar but updatedinclusion. The continuing strength of this text is that it synthesisesknowledge of child development with the daily realities for childcare practitioners. It is most definitely a book that is meant notjust to be read but to be applied and can, in my opinion, help toreinvigorate the ‘drained’ practitioner.

References

Department of Health. 2000. Framework for the Assessment of Children in Needand their Families. HMSO: London.

HM Government. 2010. Working Together to Safeguard Children: A Guide toInter‐agency Working to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children.DCSF Publications: Nottingham.

Gary HickmanDirector of Social Work Programmes,

University of Birmingham, BirminghamPublished online inWiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/car.1176

Child Abuse Review (2011)DOI:10.1002/car