Social work practice with children in the United Kingdom: Trends and issues for the 1990s

This article examines the effects of major new legislation on services for children in the United Kingdom. The Education Reform Act #op1988 and 1993#cp and the Children Act #op1989#cp operate under different principles, creating tensions and difficulties for social work practice. The authors examine challenges facing social work practice in relation to educational social work issues and children in public care. The article argues that traditional social work services for children are threatened by the delivery of welfare designed under notions of a market economy, further adding to disadvantage for children.