David Westlake – författare

Safeguarding babies and very young children is a highly complex process, involving difficult decisions surrounding their needs, care, and whether they need to be separated from their families.This book, based on a research study which followed babies who were identified as likely to suffer significant harm before their first birthdays until they were three years old, explores key issues surrounding the safeguarding process. These include how the decision whether to remove children from their families are made, whether social work interventions work and the impact they have on children's life pathways. It also examines the role various participants, including parents, have in decision-making. The findings of the study show a close link between decisions, maltreatment and children's developmental problems, and provide key implications and recommendations for policy and practice.This significant book will be essential reading for all those involved in safeguarding children, including practitioners and policymakers, academics and researchers.

This insightful book explores the application of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to children’s social care and child protection. Expert authors showcase the method using a wide range of examples that highlight the opportunities and challenges of RCTs in this context. The book also considers the key criticisms and limitations of adopting experimental methods in this context, and some alternatives, before outlining lessons learned and avenues for future development.Chapters draw on detailed case studies to highlight the transformative potential of RCTs, demonstrating how they can generate actionable findings, facilitate effective resource allocation and improve outcomes for children and families. Contributors examine the challenges of applying experimental methods in complex and sensitive circumstances, considering alternatives to randomisation such as quasi-experimental designs. Ultimately, the book reflects on novel ways of implementing more effective and informative trials, emphasising the crucial role of robust evidence in guiding policy and practice in children’s social care.Experimental Methods and Children’s Social Care is an essential resource for students and academics in social policy, social psychology, social work and family and gender studies. Its theoretical and practical coverage of RCTs will also greatly benefit policymakers and practitioners working in children's social care and child protection.

This insightful book explores the application of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to children's social care and child protection. Expert authors showcase the method using a wide range of examples that highlight the opportunities and challenges of RCTs in this context. The book also considers the key criticisms and limitations of adopting experimental methods in this context, and some alternatives, before outlining lessons learned and avenues for future development.Chapters draw on detailed case studies to highlight the transformative potential of RCTs, demonstrating how they can generate actionable findings, facilitate effective resource allocation and improve outcomes for children and families. Contributors examine the challenges of applying experimental methods in complex and sensitive circumstances, considering alternatives to randomisation such as quasi-experimental designs. Ultimately, the book reflects on novel ways of implementing more effective and informative trials, emphasising the crucial role of robust evidence in guiding policy and practice in children's social care.Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care is an essential resource for students and academics in social policy, social psychology, social work and family and gender studies. Its theoretical and practical coverage of RCTs will also greatly benefit policymakers and practitioners working in children's social care and child protection.

This insightful book explores the application of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to children's social care and child protection. Expert authors showcase the method using a wide range of examples that highlight the opportunities and challenges of RCTs in this context. The book also considers the key criticisms and limitations of adopting experimental methods in this context, and some alternatives, before outlining lessons learned and avenues for future development.Chapters draw on detailed case studies to highlight the transformative potential of RCTs, demonstrating how they can generate actionable findings, facilitate effective resource allocation and improve outcomes for children and families. Contributors examine the challenges of applying experimental methods in complex and sensitive circumstances, considering alternatives to randomisation such as quasi-experimental designs. Ultimately, the book reflects on novel ways of implementing more effective and informative trials, emphasising the crucial role of robust evidence in guiding policy and practice in children's social care.Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care is an essential resource for students and academics in social policy, social psychology, social work and family and gender studies. Its theoretical and practical coverage of RCTs will also greatly benefit policymakers and practitioners working in children's social care and child protection.