ABSTRACT
People involved in caring for the welfare and safety of children make choices that have profound consequences, and nobody would argue against the need to be ethical in this work. Child protection work is not for the fainthearted; it is intellectually and emotionally demanding, and sometimes exceedingly stressful. Fundamental to understanding the ethical challenges facing those working in child protection and family welfare is an appreciation of client vulnerability, unequal power relationships and the centrality of relationship in effective ethical practice. Little attention paid to the explicit power differentials between 'at risk' cohorts and the bureaucracies legislated to intervene in their lives when a child's safety is in question. Recognising these power differentials is an essential first step in finding a balance to enable children's well-being and safety to be ensured while not threatening or compounding the vulnerability of their families and communities. Case examples are provided to help readers work through practice-related issues, thereby developing ethical decision-making skills.
