Childrens Social Work and its Key Issues - Essay Example

In relation to this, throughout this essay, I will discuss the implications this has on social worker’s best practice when working with children. I will also be discussing the possible problems that can occur when safeguarding children and examine the complex relationship between putting theory and frameworks into practice and promoting their welfare. As a result of this, I will identify relevant social work and UK legislation and policies when working with children, young people, families and their carers that need to be considered and adhered to.

Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological and can be divided into main categories (Department of Health: No Secrets 2000); such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial or material abuse, discriminatory abuse and neglect (Department of Health, No secrets 2000). Whilst the first three types can be quite easy to describe, the term “neglect” is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to define, and the lack of clarity on this subject matter has personal implications especially on the children (NSPCC, 2007).

This is because it can be so wide-ranging in the description. The Department of Health: Working together to safeguard children (2010) looks at the term neglect as continuously failing to encounter the emotional and physical needs of a child, which can interrupt, change or damage a child’s physical and psychological development and the effects may last well into adulthood. Neglect involves caregivers or parents simply not providing the basic necessities to a child, not being able to ensure appropriate medical care or treatment is given, not being able to safeguard the child from physical harm, risk and danger and finally being unresponsive to a child’s emotional needs (Howe, 2005).

Research has identified that the physical abuse of children and risk factors associated with this has been influenced by other issues such as domestic abuse, parental mental health issues and drug and alcohol problems (Cleaver et al., 1999; Falkov, 1996). Assessing neglect is a substantial responsibility that should be accomplished by the social services department as children are helpless and rely on the intervention of those assigned to support them.