"I would thoroughly recommend it as a readable and practical tool to assist the busy practitioner." - Family Law review of the previous edition

The new edition of this popular title has been extensively updated to provide a practical guide to the complexities of the Children Act 1989 and subsequent child protection legislation, guidance and case law. Among the developments included in this edition are:

- the changes brought about by the Public Law Outline in January 2023 to family justice, particularly in relation to expert evidence, time limits, care plans and delay;

- the law surrounding deprivation of liberty as it relates to children, regarding the interface between care proceedings and Article 5 ECHR, and consideration of key case law, such as Re T (A Child) [2021] UKSC 35;

- the revision of Practice Directions, such as PD12A (Care and Supervision Proceedings and other Part 4 Proceedings: Guide to Case Management), Child Arrangements Programme (PD 12(B), and Revised PD12J – Domestic Abuse and Child Arrangements, Pilot Reporting and Private Law Review;

- significant case law developments in children law since publication of the last edition; and

- the revised edition of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), which has changed the position in relation to safeguarding and child death reviews, as well as assessments.