"e;This book is especially welcome because of the scholarship and thoughtfulness evident throughout."e; Dr Peter Reder, Child Psychiatrist, London How do child protection professionals and courts make judgments on whether serious injuries to infants are due to abuse? If injuries are considered to be the result of abuse, in what circumstances can it be considered safe for the infant to return home? Child Protection Assessment Following Serious Injuries to Infants is concerned with helping child protection professionals and courts make the right decisions and avoid errors that can have disastrous consequences for children and families. Drawing upon the extensive clinical and research experience of the authors, this authoritative text: Reviews research on the causes of child abuse and problems in diagnosing abuse. Examines the views of parents who consider that they have been wrongly accused of child abuse. Draws specific attention to the need to assess potential for change in families and considers in detail how this can be achieved. Highlights skills issues that are necessary for undertaking appropriate assessments. Identifies key factors that are indicative of reunification in some cases, and factors that contraindicate reunification in others. With its evidence-based approach, this book will be a valuable resource for all child protection professionals. It will also be of use to health professionals, legal professionals, researchers, lecturers and students of social work.

"This book is especially welcome because of the scholarship andthoughtfulness evident throughout."Dr Peter Reder, Child Psychiatrist, LondonHow do child protection professionals and courts make judgmentson whether serious injuries to infants are due to abuse? Ifinjuries are considered to be the result of abuse, in whatcircumstances can it be considered safe for the infant to returnhome?Child Protection Assessment Following Serious Injuries toInfants is concerned with helping child protection professionalsand courts make the right decisions and avoid errors that can havedisastrous consequences for children and families.Drawing upon the extensive clinical and research experience ofthe authors, this authoritative text:* Reviews research on the causes of child abuse and problems indiagnosing abuse.* Examines the views of parents who consider that they have beenwrongly accused of child abuse.* Draws specific attention to the need to assess potential forchange in families and considers in detail how this can beachieved.* Highlights skills issues that are necessary for undertakingappropriate assessments.* Identifies key factors that are indicative of reunification insome cases, and factors that contraindicate reunification inothers.With its evidence-based approach, this book will be a valuableresource for all child protection professionals. It will also be ofuse to health professionals, legal professionals, researcherslecturers and students of social work.

About the Authors.Foreword.Acknowledgements.1. Introduction.2. Child Abuse and Child Protection Errors.3. Child Abuse Research .4. Child Protection Research.5. The NSPCC Serious Injury-Discrepant ExplanationsResearch.6. Family Perceptions of Child Protection Interventions.7. Explanations for Injuries and the Thorny Issue of'Denial'.8. Child Protection Assessment Contexts.9. Potential for Change.10. Fine Judgments.References.Index.