Social Work Decision-Making

by Isaacs, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9781846610653
• ISBN10: 1846610656
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-30
• Publisher: Jordans Pub

Summary

Social workers working with children and families are required to makecomplex and difficult decisions on a daily basis which often result in courtproceedings. Social Work Decision-Making: A Guide For ChildcareLawyers is a comprehensive guide for childcare lawyers and otherprofessionals seeking to understand the policies and procedures involved insuch social work practice.This book explores what social workers are required to do in order to 'get itright', and, perhaps more importantly for childcare lawyers, how to identifywhen social workers may have 'got it wrong'. By exploring the way in whichsocial workers practice, this book equips childcare lawyers with theknowledge and skill to deconstruct and analyse the decision-makingprocess - namely the main elements of the social work assessment,intervention and case planning - within the framework of the regulatoryrequirements and the context of government guidance about best practice.Social Work Decision-Making: A Guide For Childcare Lawyers takes apractical approach, with an emphasis on fact-based examples. Key topicswhich are covered include inter-agency cooperation, disclosure issues,social work assessment methodology and child protection conferences.CONTENTSIntroductionThe Legal FrameworkWhy do lawyers need to knowabout social work?The referral to the local authorityThe local authority response -the s47 investigationThe assessment processChild protection planningThe local authority's duties towardslooked-after childrenFosteringAdoption and permanencyLeaving careHow to analyse the local authority'sdecision-making process

Table of Contents

Table of Cases
Table of Statutes
Table of Statutory Instruments
The Legal Framework	p. 1
Why do Lawyers Need to Know about Social Work?	p. 21
The Referral to the Local Authority	p. 33
The Local Authority Response to Referrals	p. 41
The Assessment Process	p. 57
Child Protection Planning	p. 109
Looked after Children	p. 131
Fostering	p. 157
Adoption and Permanency	p. 179
Leaving Care	p. 235
How to Analyse the Local Authority's Decision-making Process	p. 251
Timescales for local authority investigation, assessment and planning	p. 269
Overview of local authority decision-making and child protection planning processes	p. 271
Flowchart: Pre-proceedings - Public Law Outline	p. 273
Index	p. 275
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.