ABSTRACT
This chapter describes and outlines the development of government guidance on child protection from 1974 to date, with particular consideration of the period since the late 1990s. It provides some insight into the economic and political context for contemporary child protection practice. The chapter demonstrates that a historical analysis of official guidance since 1974 provides important insights into the changing nature of child protection policy and practice, particularly in terms of its priorities, focus and organisation. The contemporary child protection system in England was effectively inaugurated with the issue of the DHSS circular entitled Non-accidental Injury to Children. The primary focus of the system was to ensure that a range of key professionals were familiar with the signs of non-accidental injury to children. The first central government guidance that had the title of Working Together was published in 1988. The chapter highlights again how examples of severe abuse and child deaths have impacted upon the development of legislation.
