ABSTRACT
The 1989 Act attempted to encourage an approach to child welfare based on negotiation with families which in turn involved parents and children in agreed plans. The main premise of this chapter is that since the 1970s social work has witnessed a move from a broad concern with child welfare and prevention to the current situation where child protection/safeguarding dominates social work with children and families. The chapter is divided into three sections: the tragedy of Maria Colwell's death in 1973 and its aftermath, the 1989 Children Act and its implementation, and developments under New Labour and ensuing Coalition and now Conservative governments. The 1889 Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act gave National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) inspectors, the precursors of professional social workers, powers to investigate suspected cruelty to children and bring parents before the courts, largely because of neglect.
