Children in Need

Implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 introduced a new service category for children and their families, "children in need" and raised questions regarding service eligibility criteria as well as responsibility for service provision. This work responded to an identified gap in knowledge regarding the implementation of children in need policy in Scottish Social Work Departments and sought to answer a key question: How is children in need policy formulated by Social Work Services staff on a conceptual and operational level? The analysis of children in need policy occurs within an "Integrated Power Framework", that provides a theoretical basis to comprehend, analyse, evaluate, and ultimately improve policy formulation and implementation. Findings have implications for service resourcing, planning, administration, and provision for individuals and groups of children deemed in need. §The book will be useful to social service administrators, managers, planners, evaluators, and direct service providers, in particular social workers, whose aim is to improve services for children and families.