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Identifying Emotional and Psychological Abuse: A Guide for Childcare Professionals
Kieran O’Hagan,
Open University Press,
ISBN 0335215467,
£19.99

STAR RATING: 3/5

This is a timely book because of its pulling together of the responses to the Laming Report and the problems about the testimony of expert witnesses in courts, writes Chris Brazendale.

The author argues that British social work is preoccupied with trying to gather evidence of physical abuse and says that an understanding of and acting upon concerns of emotional abuse is central to child protection.

The legislative and assessment framework is explored before the author moves on to examine child development in helpful age ranges. I found the chapter on observations of babies under 12 months old particularly thought provoking.

The book would be most useful for students in health, child care or social work, named teachers for child protection and newly qualified workers.

It would also be useful to those studying for post-qualifying awards and deserves to be widely read.

Chris Brazendale is a social worker in children’s services, Bradford Council