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This paper explores the concepts of adversity, risk, vulnerability and resilience in the context of child protection systems with the aim of contributing to the debate about the ways in which risk of 'harm' and 'abuse' are conceptualised at different stages of the lifespan and in relation to different groups of people. The recent developments in the policy and legislative framework for state intervention on behalf of children in the UK are described and linked with an exploration of the underlying assumptions about abuse and neglect. Concepts of adversity, risk, vulnerability and resilience and the ways in which the complexity of the routes and pathways to 'harm' pose a challenge to the current UK state protective system are discussed.

ABSTRACTFollowing the murder of a young child by her stepfather a ministerial review of child protection across Scotland was established. It was carried out by a multidisciplinary team of representatives from education, health‐nursing, health‐medical, police, social work and the Reporter to the Children's Hearing. The review comprised a number of subprojects and included a direct audit of the practice of all the key agencies. The views of the general public, parents, children and professionals were obtained via a set of consultation subprojects. The audit of practice was built around a set of individual, in‐depth case studies. The cases were drawn from the spectrum of child care and protection cases by sampling from cases known to health visitors, education departments, the police and social work departments. The audit considered compliance with guidance, but the key focus was on outcomes for children.The findings indicated that although there were many examples of good practice with children, a significant number of children were left unprotected or their needs were not met. The issues were not unique to Scotland and are discussed under four key areas. The paper sets out the extent of chronic need amongst the child population that the audit revealed, looks at the messages from consultation about issues of accessing help for children or by children directly, and describes some shortcomings of the current system. Finally the paper analyses the ways that the different agencies interact and sets out a model for how the system can provide a protective network for children who are in need of protection and support.

In 2001 the Scottish Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs ordered a multi-disciplinary review of child protection across Scotland. The review was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team with representatives from each professional group of education, the police, medicine, nursing and the Scottish Children's Reporters. A major part of the review was a direct examination of the practice of all the key agencies involved in child protection. This article sets out the development of a methodology that enabled the team to both describe and evaluate practice. As well as drawing on existing inspection and audit techniques a new qualitative audit methodology was developed that was informed by developments in qualitative research. The methodology incorporated an evaluation of each agency's practice for each child as well as an evaluation of the overall outcome as a result of all agencies' endeavours. The strengths and drawbacks of the methodology are examined.

Neglect is now recognized as leading to significantly poor outcomes for children in the short and long term. It is a matter of concern for all professionals who work with children. Children who are neglected are not likely to seek help in their own right and are highly dependent on professionals such as health visitors and schoolteachers identifying and responding to their needs for support and protection. In order to carry out the key tasks of prevention, recognition and response to neglect, practitioners require up-to-date evidence-based information about the aetiology and signs of neglect a

This practical resource for work with vulnerable adolescents shows ways of promoting resilience and encouraging pro-social behaviour. Discussing concerns associated with adolescence such as peer pressure and moral responsibility and family and peer relationships, the authors suggest ways for practitioners to engage with and support young people who may have social or family problems. Focusing on different areas in which resilience can be cultivated, this practical guide offers an applied perspective on procedures of need assessment and intervention. Grounded in theory and developed through wor

Helping practitioners in their work with vulnerable children of a school-going age, this workbook explores ways of nurturing resilience in different aspects of everyday life. Focusing on specific areas such as home life, talents and interests, friendships and social competencies, the authors show how to make thorough assessments and intervene in constructive ways. They discuss nurturing factors relevant to children across the school years age range, such as moral reasoning and empathy, awareness of other people's intentions and the ability to see situations from different perspectives. The aut

This clear and practical workbook shows the importance of encouraging resilience in pre-school children who live in challenging circumstances. Focusing on assessment of need, Brigid Daniel and Sally Wassell show how to evaluate resilience using checklists and background information. They explain that children in their early years gain resilience from a range of experiences, including attachment relationships, opportunities to develop self-esteem and learning to understand others and behaving in a positive way towards them. With this in mind, they set out ways of encouraging pro-social behaviou

At any time any person faces a possibility of suffering harm from another, and the broad criminal justice framework aims to provide a general level of protection from such harms to the whole population. However, possibilities of abuse, exploitation or neglect are conceptualised as more likely for certain people. These include those in intimate partner relationships, or those whose level of dependency on others is greater as a result of life stage or impairment. Specific legal and policy measures aim to address potential harm in such situations, and are proliferating.