Child abuse: Do social work students get enough ractice experience of work ith children at risk?

Abstract

This article welcomes the development of post-qualifying courses on child-abuse but urges that they should not be seen as an alternative to adequate coverage of the subject on social work courses leading to basic qualification. In particular, the need is stressed for professional social work students to have placement experience of work with children at risk. Some recent research undertaken by the author confirmed other research findings that for too long students have been denied such experience. Finally the article suggests some ways in which this deficiency might be overcome and stresses the need for inter-disciplinary training.