Formerly published as part of the popular "Practice Notes" series and written by experienced practitioners, the fourth edition provides a practical and concise guide to the Children Act 1989, subsequent legislation, guidance and case law. The new material covered in this edition includes: "Every Child Matters, the Children Act 2004", the new edition of "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (2006), the new "Children Act 1989 Guidance, Volume 1 Court Orders", the content and impact of the new "Public Law Outline (PLO)" and important recent cases. This book does not include the separate field of adoption law, but selected relevant provisions of the "Adoption and Children Act 2002" and the "Children and Adoption Act 2006" are included. In addition to explaining the general principles of the law relating to child care and protection, the authors provide valuable insights into assessments, care planning, expert evidence, taking instructions, case preparation and courtroom skills. Presented in a compact, user-friendly format, the book also contains checklists and flowcharts which will prove invaluable to the busy practitioner.