‘Directed primarily atsocial workers buthas relevance wellbeyond thatprofessional group’

‘The conceptualunderpinnings aredescribed at theorganisational level,the practitioner leveland the user level’

BookReview

Edited by

Marjorie Keys

Child Abuse Review Vol. 21: 66–67 (2012)Published online in Wiley Online Library(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/car.1186

Safeguarding in the 21stCentury−Where toNow?by JaneBarlow,with Jane Scott, Research in Practice, Totnes, 2010. 132pp.ISBN 978‐1‐904984‐33‐7 (Pbk), £10

What a great book this is! Barlow has a really accessible styleof writing and, ably assisted by Scott, she sets out her visionfor what a realistic and effective model of safeguarding practicemight look like in the next few years. This book is directedprimarily at social workers but has relevance well beyond thatprofessional group, and health professionals in particular wouldfind this a useful overview of the history and context ofsafeguarding policy. Based on a review of published docu-ments, policy and commentary, it has, unlike most books, beenpeer reviewed by a range of individuals working at a seniorlevel in academia, policy and practice, a fact that makes it lookand feel authoritative and trustworthy. Interspersed throughoutwith good practice vignettes, it is a compelling account notonly of child protection as it is now, but where it could go inthe next few years.Chapter 1 unpacks the changing face of child protection,

exploring policy shifts and pertinent struggles. The argumentsaround evidence‐based practice are conveyed sharply. Chapter 2sets out Barlow’s vision for a 21st century model, consistentwith a ‘Think Family’ approach. There are 16 concepts to thisnew model, which sounds a bit daunting to start with, but theseare organised logically and will have resonance for mostpeople. At their most basic, the conceptual underpinnings aredescribed at the organisational level, the practitioner level andthe user level. The assessment process is the focus of Chapter 3,with a welcome reiteration of the need to get beyond thethreshold debate. This chapter in particular is organised aroundthe English Common Assessment Framework, but readers fromthe other UK countries and beyond will find much that issimilar in their own context.In Chapter 4, Barlow addresses targeted family support, with an

emphasis on relationship‐based approaches and motivationalinterviewing, arguing that expectations about effective interven-tions to bring about change in families experiencing complexproblems are currently too low. There is a solid debate about jointworking in Chapter 5, incorporating a refreshing look at somelessons from other European countries, and finally, Chapter 6 tiesall this together in extracting the key messages.Barlow calls for a new conceptual model, one that combines

the grass roots of practice with policy, yet remains firmlyembedded in child development theory. Client‐practitionerrelationships are seen as the key to successful intervention.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘In this particularbook, the authors havegot it exactly right’

67Book Review

The aim of Research in Practice, the publisher of this text, is toprovide practitioners with accessible summaries of relevantstudies and interpretations of that research. In this particularbook, the authors have got it exactly right.

Julie TaylorProfessor of Family Health, University of Dundee,

Seconded Head of Strategy and Development,Physical Abuse in High Risk Families, NSPCC

Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/car.1186

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Child Abuse Rev. Vol. 21: 66–67 (2012)DOI: 10.1002/car.1178