ABSTRACT
The specific construction of ‘childhood’, and of the related concept of parenting used by social workers, has profound implications for decision making in respect of children. Stainton Rogers supports the view first expressed by Parton (1985, 1997) that child protection is a ‘moral and political endeavour’. Recent concern on the part of the UK government (Performance and Innovation Unit, 2000) about the functioning of the adoption service leaves little room for doubt that adoption is currently a political as well as a moral enterprise. It may be argued that the moral, political and professional issues involved in adoption are likely to be at least as complex as those in child protection decision making. This contribution aims to identify and comment on a few of the many elements that contribute to this process
The way in which children are viewed is critical to how their care is planned for. Whether they are seen as resilient or easily subject to irreparable damage, as capable or incapable, or as having rights which are primarily rights to care and protection versus being holders of rights which reflect more closely the range of adult rights, all affect the planning processes for children. This may happen as part of a conscious process of thought about the child’s best interests, or as a part-perceived or ill thought through undercurrent in the decision making process.
