Select an area of practice (child care) and describe and discuss some of the recent key legislative and policy initiatives in this area (be selective). Critically discuss ways in which some of these policies have impacted on social work practice. You should highlight and discuss some of the dilemmas for social work practitioners. The essay should set the policy/practice in an historical context (very briefly).

The historical legislation and policy initiatives in the area of childcare have had an impact on social work practice today.  These could be identified as three phases of childcare.  The first is to rescue children from the economics of the workplace (or the profit motive); secondly, to rescue the child from poverty; and, thirdly, to rescue children from threat of abuse.  The Children Act (1989), along with recent legislation and government initiatives, has endeavoured to incorporate all three areas of care. These polices that are in place today have created some dilemmas in Social Work practice?

The focus of discussion is Section17, Children Act (1989), which introduced the concept of children in need.  This described the local authorities duties towards children in that they were to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need; and so far …(short extract)