Child Protection Vocabulary in the Children Act 1989: Power, Ambiguity and Heterogeneity

Regardless the few decades that an established legislative framework in Child Protection has been effect, responsibility of Law and System is to continuously explore social needs, as they change, transform or new ones are introduced adapt circumstances attempts safeguard protect children. This paper not focusing on those adaptations; it draws this argue ever-changing world, wherein needs demands shifting, Vocabulary be more explicit adaptive changes. like ‘best interest’, ‘resilience’, ‘power’, ‘vulnerability’ commonplace child protection legislation, regulation, policy practice. That said, question interpretation always concern; how varied agencies, stakeholders, authorities, groups, individuals approaching safeguarding when heterogeneity language used ever-increasing? provides a conceptual content analysis found Children Act 1989. The will drawing amendments 2004, well Social Work 2017, but preserve its focus 1989 foundation for contemporary System. Implications findings provided at end.