Children, Child Abuse and Child Protection is the second book written by the Violence Against Children Study Group, a multidisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners from a range of professional settings concerned with child protection. This book follows on from the highly successful Taking Child Abuse Seriously, published in 1990. This new volume gives an overview of the complex and uncertain political, moral and social context within which practitioners and managers attempt to work with children, families and others. The authors suggest factors that should be taken into consideration when refining policy and practice. The book reviews the development of improved policy and practices in child protection, placing children at the centre of policy, practice and discourse. The chapters explore the margins of the child protection system, and in particular how child protection interconnects or overlaps with other systems, such as health, police and education. This accessible text: * provides a unique focus on the margins of the child protection system * engages in current debates in social theory and social research * makes suggestions for policy and practice Children, Child Abuse and Child Protection is a core text for students studying health, social care, social work and applied social studies. It is essential reading for practitioners and managers with responsibilities for child protection, and a valuable resource for social service and social work departments, local education authorities and welfare agencies.