LAUSR

keeping children safe if a child’s needs can be the focus of intervention. The focus on theory and history of child centred work leads the way for the second half of the book which focuses on practical tools to ensure a child remains the focus of a piece of work. I felt Barnes struck the right balance between suggesting tools such as direct work, advocate led work with children with the reality of statutory social work, with its high caseloads, often a sense of a blame culture or close door policy that prevents reflective practice on complex and often very harrowing cases. I feel Barnes general premise that despite the pressures on today’s social work environment child centred social work can still be achieved is realistic. However, it will take senior level staff in frontline services to pick up books like this to change the often very adult focused culture that exists when working with vulnerable children. This is a thought-provoking book which would be a great resource for senior managers to use in social service departments to consider good working practices that ensure children remain the centre of the work undertaken. I also feel this would be a good resource for team managers when considering case discussions in supervision.