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 significant changes to instruction of experts, secure accommodation, child arrangements orders and private children law; significant secondary legislation and case law surrounding special guardianship orders, particularly with the implementation of the Special Guardianship (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018;
• 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.