Citation

Baynes P. Practice 2007; 19(4): 271-284.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09503150701728194

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes how my work as a children's guardian in a case of physical harm prompted me to attempt to adapt the existing generic ‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need’ (Department of Health 2000) to create a specialist tool for work in such circumstances. The paper begins by outlining the case, and the role of the guardian, before going on to describe the existing framework, its historical context and its strengths and weaknesses. There is some discussion of the available research within the field of physical harm, and how this can be used within the three domains of the existing framework. It is then argued that there is a need for a fourth domain of ‘process and organisational context’. In the second part of this paper an account is given of how the implementation of the resulting tool supported my assessment of the case.