Kerry O’Halloran - a professionally qualified lawyer, social worker and academic - has recently retired from 13 years as Adjunct Professor to the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT, Brisbane. In Northern Ireland he served on the Social Care Tribunal and on a HSS Trust Adoption Panel, has advised the Irish government on law reform matters, and has served in a consultancy capacity to government bodies such as Courts Services (Northern Ireland) and to the Open University in England. Previously employed as Assistant Director (Research) at the Centre for Voluntary Action, University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, his 30 books and many other publications, include The Politics of Adoption, 4th ed (Springer, 2021), Adoption Law and Human Rights: International Perspectives (Routledge, 2018), Religion, Charity and Human Rights (CUP, 2014) and Child Care and Protection: the Law & Practice in Northern Ireland (Thompson Reuters, 2003).

• DedicationPreface Introduction Part IThe Legal Origins of the Child Welfare Principle in E&WChap 1 State Recognition of Child Welfare: Feudalism; the Common Law; andthe Poor Laws Chap 2 Judicial Acknowledgement of Guardianship Duties Chap 3 Legislative Endorsement of Child Welfare Part IIThe Content & Role of the Welfare PrincipleChap 4 Welfare Interests and the Child Chap 5 Identifying Welfare Interests Chap 6 Representing Welfare Interests Chap 7 The Legal System and Welfare Interests Part IIIApplying the Child Welfare Principle in the Late 20th Century: Public & Private Family LawChap 8 Public Family Law: Prevention, Protection, Care and Control Chap 9 Private Family Law: Contested and Uncontested Proceedings Conclusion Bibliography Index

Kerry O’Halloran - a professionally qualified lawyer, social worker and academic - has recently retired from 13 years as Adjunct Professor to the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT, Brisbane. In Northern Ireland he served on the Social Care Tribunal and on a HSS Trust Adoption Panel, has advised the Irish government on law reform matters, and has served in a consultancy capacity to government bodies such as Courts Services (Northern Ireland) and to the Open University in England. Previously employed as Assistant Director (Research) at the Centre for Voluntary Action, University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, his 30 books and many other publications, include The Politics of Adoption, 4th ed (Springer, 2021), Adoption Law and Human Rights: International Perspectives (Routledge, 2018), Religion, Charity and Human Rights (CUP, 2014) and Child Care and Protection: the Law & Practice in Northern Ireland (Thompson Reuters, 2003).

• DedicationPreface Introduction Part IThe Legal Origins of the Child Welfare Principle in E&WChap 1 State Recognition of Child Welfare: Feudalism; the Common Law; andthe Poor Laws Chap 2 Judicial Acknowledgement of Guardianship Duties Chap 3 Legislative Endorsement of Child Welfare Part IIThe Content & Role of the Welfare PrincipleChap 4 Welfare Interests and the Child Chap 5 Identifying Welfare Interests Chap 6 Representing Welfare Interests Chap 7 The Legal System and Welfare Interests Part IIIApplying the Child Welfare Principle in the Late 20th Century: Public & Private Family LawChap 8 Public Family Law: Prevention, Protection, Care and Control Chap 9 Private Family Law: Contested and Uncontested Proceedings Conclusion Bibliography Index