Critical Practice with Children and Young People

‘This new edition is an enormously valuable resource for students and practitioners who want an up-to-date, expert and wide-ranging exploration of the changing policy and professional contexts that shape work with children and young people’. Robert MacDonald, University of Huddersfield

'A marvellous resource for students and practitioners - theoretically grounded, accessible and rich in practical and contemporary examples of critical practice with children and young people. A very timely contribution and ‘must read’!' Wendy Sims-Schouten, University of Portsmouth

‘Looking at the intersections between policy, practice and theory, this book is a must-have for anyone working with children and young people, or those aiming to develop a career in this field through their studies.’ Francesca Salvi, University of Portsmouth

Martin Robb is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at The Open University.

Heather Montgomery is a Reader in the Anthropology of Childhood at The Open University.

Rachel Thomson is a Professor of Childhood and Youth Studies at the University of Sussex.

Introduction ~ Martin Robb and Heather Montgomery;

Part One: Conceptual contexts;

Critical practice in work with children and young people: perspectives from research ~ Phil Jones, Christos Charitou, Daniel Mercieca and Ximena Poblete;

Meeting the needs of pregnant and parenting teenagers using research: pointers for practice ~ Lisa Arai;

‘New experts’ in the history of child protection ~ Jennifer Crane;

‘I blame the parents’: families, experts and the state ~ Heather Montgomery and Victoria Cooper;

Working effectively with African Caribbean young women: an intersectional approach ~ Jenny Douglas;

Devolution and children’s rights in the United Kingdom ~ Osian Rees;

Part Two: Professional contexts;

Children’s perspectives informing professional welfare practice: a comparative view ~ Maria Eriksson and Keith Pringle;

Beyond talk: learning from children and young people experiencing a family health crisis ~ Victoria Cooper, Jane Payler and Stephanie Bennett;

Childcare social work: perspectives on the professional ~ Andy Rixon;

Multiagency practice and professional identity ~ Anna Souhami;

Materialising professionalism in the nursery: exploring the intimate connection between critique and creation ~ Jayne Osgood;

Wanted men? Gendered discourses in work with children and young people ~ Martin Robb;

Part Three: Personal contexts;

The making of a good teacher: past, present and future perspectives ~ Jane Martin;

The personal, professional and maternal in children’s services ~ Sue Higham;

Working with children experiencing disenfranchised grief: the use of supervision and reflection ~ Andy Taylor;

“Well you would say that…” Tales of parental/professional/personal experience ~ Jonathan Rix.