Justice for Children and Families

Children come into the world completely helpless, and require well-functioning families and schools to meet their needs, protect their interests and nurture their potential. This book argues that healthy child-development depends on values, ideas and structures that promote justice for children and families; in particular, checks and balances that favour: • Fairness: allowing fair distribution of resources, so that every child and family have the best possible chance to reach their potential. • Protection: resources for families, neighbourhoods and schools to help protect and encourage their children, alongside the means to intervene, should this protection fail. • Autonomy: encouraging children's voice and participation in decision-making at a level commensurate with their maturity. Authored by leading experts in the field, the book is comprised of short, highly readable chapters with an interdisciplinary appeal, for practitioners of social science, law, social work, psychology, paediatrics, psychotherapy, psychiatry and public health alike.

Mike Shaw is Co-director of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) National Unit and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. He has a longstanding interest in child mental health and the law, and evidenced-based practice. Sue Bailey has worked as a Child and Adolescent psychiatrist for over thirty years. Through many roles, including President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, her national health policy and research work has focused on needs assessment and risk management across health and social care.