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Developing Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection

NCJ Number
239454
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2012 Pages: 190-202
Author(s)
Margaret Bruce; Helen Whincup
Date Published
June 2012
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the development of the Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection requirements for social work programs in Scotland.
Abstract
Over the last 20 years, research has questioned how well equipped newly qualified social workers are in relation to child care and protection. Recent inquiries have highlighted that some social workers have not recognized their responsibilities towards children and young people when they encounter them in the course of their duties. In England, Lord Laming's (2009) report The Protection of Children in England, following the death of Peter Connelly in Haringey, recommended a specialist child protection route as part of the social work degree and re-opened the debate about the benefits of specialism versus genericism. In Scotland, when faced with similar challenges, Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection were introduced to ensure that all social workers at the point of qualifying can evidence their knowledge and skills in relation to child care and protection. This paper describes their development. (Published Abstract)