This comprehensive handbook is a thoroughly up-to-date reference for all those involved in child protection work and is based on the highly successful Early Prediction and Prevention of Child Abuse, which is considered a key text in the field.

This new, ground-breaking handbook presents the most recent approaches to the prediction and prevention of child abuse and neglect, being a thorough update of the successful original volume. The book helps identify which families are most at risk of abusing their children and what immediate action needs to be taken in the best interests of the child. It also considers the types of intervention that are necessary to prevent child abuse and neglect occurring and the advances made in the assessment and treatment of both victims and offenders.

Early Prediction and Prevention of Child Abuse: A Handbook brings together an international field of experts from a range of disciplines whose contributions are arranged in four sections. The first section looks at the prevalence of child maltreatment and how different forms of abuse can be predicted, the second section examines what is needed for successful primary and secondary prevention, with the last two sections reviewing effective ways of helping children and families, and treating offenders, respectively. The book concludes by considering those sections of society that have identifiable needs but may be outside and/or excluded from routine interventions.

This timely volume is vital for professionals, practitioners, policy-makers and managers dealing with child protection from both an offender and victim perspective. It is also an essential resource for students in social care, social work, criminology, psychology, psychiatry, law, paediatrics, nursing, community health, police, probation and social policy.