Social work with children and families is a challenging, complex but ultimately rewarding pathway for the student social worker. This fully-revised new edition aims to guide the student through the legislation, policy and law that surrounds social work with children and families, while providing a solid foundation for critical thinking. Vital skills and methods such as communication, observation and assessments are explored in detail while the ethical and value base of social work practice underpins the text. Recommendations from the Munro Review into Child Protection are referred to throughout.