Abstract

Increase in public concern about the abuse of children in residential homes has led to a proliferation of inquiries and large-scale criminal investigations throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium. The authors examine the background and context to these developmentals in detail. A focal point of the book is an in-depth analysis of the North Wales Tribunal (to which the authors were given extended access) - the events that led up to it, the process it followed and the recommendations that it made.

The authors set out their own recommendations for future public inquiries into residential abuse. Public Inquiries into Abuse of Children in Residential Care contains a wealth of material derived from public inquiries that provides a key knowledge base for practitioners and those responsible for the provision of residential care for children. It also highlights some major issues in relation to monitoring and inquiring into matters of national concern which are also of major importance to public policy students and practitioners.

It provides a concise and contextualised insight into residential childcare and public policy surrounding it, and as such should become a standard text on social work courses. It should also be required reading for existing social workers and policy makers who can appear so readily seduced by prevailing orthodoxies that abuse can be regulated out of systems.
Social Work Education
The late Brian Corby was Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Central Lancashire. His research interests lay in the field of child abuse and social work practice, and he was the author of several books and articles on this subject. Alan Doig is Professor of Public Services Management at the Business School of Liverpool John Moores University. He has published widely in the field of fraud and corruption in the public services and has a particular interest in public accountability. Vicki Roberts is a Research Assistant at the Liverpool John Moores University. She has research experience in a variety of health and social services settings in the voluntary sector and local government.
The title of this excellent book belies the breadth of its subject matter…. The authors support the need for residential provision, and develop recommendations for the future from analyses of the past, making crucial observations which are, in fact, very relevant to the care of all needy and vulnerable individuals. They have produced and exceptionally important and enlightening work that should be required reading for all social work and public service professionals and will no doubt become a classic in its field.
Community Care
I found this book extremely useful and thought provoking. It also gives a very good history and political analyisis of the use of residential care for children and young people. It is easy to read yet covers many complex areas. It provides a brief but comprehensive account of the North Wales Inquiry for those who may not have been able to read the full report or management summary. In addition, the book contains useful lists, such as that relating to public inquiries into institutional abuse. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in these areas.
Child Abuse Review