Preface. PART I: Developments in Law, Policy and Related Research. 1. The Children Act 1989 and Recent Developments in Research in England and Wales, Malcolm Hill, University of Glasgow and Jane Aldgate, University of Leicester. From the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to the Children (Scotland) Act 1995: Pressures for Change, Kay Tisdall, University of Glasgow. 3. The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995: Prospects for Progress?, Greg Kelly, Queen's University, Belfast and John Pinkerton, Queen's University, Belfast. 4. Irish Child Care Services in the 1990s: The Child Care Act 1991 and other Developments, Robbie Gilligan, Trinity College, Dublin. 5. Children, Crime and Society, Stewart Asquith, University of Glasgow. 6. Children and Young People's Participation in Decision Making: The Legal Framework in Social Services and Education, Ruth Sinclair, National Children's Bureau. PART II: Child Protection. 7. The Legal and Social Construction of Significant Harm, Pauline Hardiker, University of Leicester. 8. Families', Social Workers' and Police Perspectives on Child Abuse Investigations, Lorraine Waterhouse, University of Edinburgh and Janice McGhee, University of Edinburgh. 9. Partnership-based Practice in Child Protection Work, June Thoburn, University of East Anglia, Ann Lewis, University of East Anglia and David Shemmings, University of East Anglia. PART III: The Continuum of Out-of-home Care. 10. Respite Accommodation: A Case Study of Partnership under the Children Act 1989, Jane Aldgate, University of Leicester, Marie Bradley, University of Leicester and David Hawley, University of Leicester. 11. Short-term Foster Care, Clive Sellick, University of East Anglia. 12. Children's Perspectives on Long-term Foster Care, Colette McAuley, Queen's University of Belfast. 13. Residential Child Care in England and Wales: The Inquiries and After, David Berridge, University of Luton and Isabelle Brodie, University of Luton. 14. Adoption in England and Wales: Current Issues and Future Trends, Murray Ryburn, University of Birmingham. 15. Adolescents Leaving Care or Leaving Home and Child Care Provision in Ireland and the UK: A Critical View, Eoin O' Sullivan, Trinity College, Dublin. PART IV: Evaluation and Outcomes. 16. Consulting Service Users: The Views of Young People, Isobel Freeman, Strathclyde Social Work Department, Alex Morrison, Strathclyde Social Work Department, Fional Lockhart, Strathclyde Social Work Department and Moira Swanson, Strathclyde Social Work Department. 17. Constructing and Implementing Measures to Assess the Outcomes of Looking after Children away from Home, Harriet Ward, Dartington Social Research Unit. 18. Outcomes of Social Work Intervention with Young People, Malcolm Hill, University of Glasgow, John Triseliotis, University of Edinburgh, Moira Borland, University of Glasgow and Lydia Lambert, University of Edinburgh. The Contributors. Index.