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Child protection in England: an emerging inequalities perspective

Paul Bywaters (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK)
Tim Sparks (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK)

Journal of Children's Services

ISSN: 1746-6660

Article publication date: 18 September 2017

698

Abstract

Purpose

In the past 40 years, both health policy and educational policy in England have adopted commitments to reducing socially created inequalities. However, an inequalities perspective has only begun to emerge in relation to child protection, and child welfare services more widely. The purpose of this paper is to chart evidence of these green shoots of a new policy direction which focusses on two aspects: equalising service provision and outcomes for looked after children.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis of trends in policies as expressed in official documents, research studies and policy statements.

Findings

The paper outlines the argument for a more comprehensive approach to addressing inequalities in child protection and child welfare services, and concludes by suggesting some implications for policy and practice.

Originality/value

The paper develops the concept of an inequalities perspective in child protection and outlines key implications.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The Nuffield Foundation is an endowed charitable trust that aims to improve social well-being in the widest sense. It funds research and innovation in education and social policy and also works to build capacity in education, science and social science research. The Nuffield Foundation has funded work which has contributed to this review, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation. More information is available at: www.nuffieldfoundation.org

Citation

Bywaters, P. and Sparks, T. (2017), "Child protection in England: an emerging inequalities perspective", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 12 No. 2-3, pp. 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-04-2017-0014

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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