In the Firing Line

Serious child protection failures haunt health and welfare agencies around the world.

Based on interviews with protective workers and rigorous examination of their cases, this ground breaking book draws links between the traumatised and isolated child protection worker and the traumatised and isolated re-abused child. This book judiciously uses the words of the workers themselves to bring alive the stresses of life In the Firing Line. Case studies highlight the full extent of violence in many children's lives. The authors propose that, in serious cases of abuse, new approaches and understandings are required if children are to be protected from repeated abuse, long-term psychological injury and even death.
* First book to clearly make the connection between violence against child protection workers and the impact on their ability to protect the child
* Tackles the very important, but often neglected, topic of the power balance between clients and social workers
* Presents a wealth of research findings and real-life examples from practice Children and Workers in the Firing Line: Messages from the Case Files and Interviews

The Shifting Foundations of Child Protection: The Context of the Victorian Study

The Failure to Protect: Child Deaths due to Familial Assault or Neglect

The Failure to Protect: Repeated Abuse

The Social Worker-Client Relationship: From Love to Violence and Beyond

Protective Workers in the Firing Line: The True Extent of Violence and Isolation

Hostage Theory

Child Protection Workers as Hostages

Beyond the Firing Line: The Broad Perspective

Supervision: From Part of the Problem to Part of the Solution

The Firing Line Revisited

Appendix: The Victorian Study

References "This interesting volume examines serious and fatal child abuse cases and the challenges facing workers who serve violent families." (Virginia Child Protection Newsletter, 1 March 2012)

"...essential reading for anyone who has the responsibility of supervising a front-line child protection worker..." (Professional Social Work, September 2002)

"…This book will be of interest to all those working in child protection…" (Child Right, September 2002)

"…This is an excellent book and well worth a read by anyone involved in protecting children from abuse…" (Child & Family Social Work, No.7, 2002)

"…I found it tremendously refreshing to read the comparatively sophisticated and measured critique.." (Newsletter of the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre, Autumn)

"…a useful addition to the literature on child protection…" (Youth & Policy)

Janet Stanley is the author of In the Firing Line: Violence and Power in Child Protection Work, published by Wiley.

Chris Goddard is the author of In the Firing Line: Violence and Power in Child Protection Work, published by Wiley. Serious child protection failures haunt health and welfare agencies around the world.

This ground-breaking book provides evidence to link two issues of major concern to health and welfare professionals: the re-abuse of children and violence against child protection workers. Janet Stanley and Chris Goddard propose that by recognising the violence faced by protective workers, protection of children under the care of protective services will be increased. Furthermore, they argue that failures in child protection have been too often followed by failures in the child death inquiry systems.

Based on interviews with protective workers and rigorous examination of their case files, In the Firing Line draws links between the traumatised and isolated child protection worker and the traumatised and isolated re-abused child. Using the words of the workers themselves, the stresses of being "in the firing line" are vividly brought to life. Case studies highlight the full extent of violence in many children's lives. The book proposes that, in serious cases of abuse, new approaches and understandings are required if children are to be protected from repeated abuse, long-term psychological injury and perhaps death.

In the Firing Line is essential reading for all professionals, policy makers, students and educators in child care and protection. It is also important for those who work with clients/customers who have the potential to be violent and for those who are responsible for the supervision and management of staff who work with potentially violent clients.