The Child Placement Handbook

This comprehensive book brings together up-to-date research and practice in the children's placement field. It includes 23 essays in three sections that cover research, policy and practice, placement options and meeting needs in placements.

This body of work is a detailed overview of research and analysis of placement options for children, and covers everything from family care and reunification with birth families to residential care and issues surrounding permanence and contact. The issues of adoption are also considered, such as the legal and ethical framework, ongoing contact and inter-country adoptions.

The first section looks at topics in a national and international policy context and features an excellent chapter that outlines the lasting impact of abuse, and how this might affect both placement choice and subsequent support in placement. Emerging themes include the need to look at each child's individual needs, the importance of healthy attachments and incorporating the child's views in decision making.

The recent Children, Schools and Families Select Committee report on looked-after children expressed concerns that cost and process could prevent some children having access to a suitable range of placements. The well-researched and evidence-based information in this book is a timely reminder of the many options available and the importance of making the right choices. In addition to being an essential introduction for trainee social workers and a valuable source of reference for those already in the field, this book should also be on every commissioner's shelf.