Forty Years of Research, Policy and Practice in Children's Services A Festschrift for Roger Bullock

Forty years of research, policy and practice in children's services provides an overview of key issues in research, policy and practice concerning children's services in the UK since the 1960s. Closely linked to the work of Roger Bullock and Dartington Social Research Unit -- the centre for which he has worked throughout that period -- this book takes a uniquely wide perspective on children's services, incorporating not only social care but also other providers involved in meeting the needs of vulnerable children. Written by distinguished and internationally recognised authors, chapters explore recurring themes in children's services within the context of 21st-century reforms. Theoretical and practical perspectives are combined to consider developments in education, youth justice, mental health, residential and foster care, adoption, child protection, family support and family law. An historical view of the role of social research in policy-making, a discussion of international perspectives, a sideways look at the relationship between social research and the arts, and a survey of the challenges faced by one independent research centre are also included. Messages are highlighted and future directions examined for research, policy and practice aimed at improving outcomes for children in need and their families. Particularly relevant to the new agenda for children's services, this is an important book for researchers, policy makers and practitioners involved in the reform and development of children's services. It will also be of interest to students and lecturers on courses in social work, education, health, family law and youth justice.Little, Michael is the author of 'Forty Years of Research, Policy and Practice in Children's Services A Festschrift for Roger Bullock', published 2005 under ISBN 9780470012192 and ISBN 0470012196.