Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- List of illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Common abbreviations -- Introduction: what is in this book and who should use it -- Methodology: the study on which this book is based -- Literature review -- Case file reviews -- Qualitative interviews -- Part I Setting the scene -- 1 Defining and understanding the client group - who are ethnic minorities and what do they characteristically have in common? -- Definitive characteristics of ethnic minorities -- Cultural characteristics ethnic minorities typically have in common -- Non-cultural characteristics ethnic minorities typically have in common -- 2 The theoretical backdrop - why is it important to work effectively with ethnic minorities and across cultures in Western child protection systems? -- Introduction: culturally appropriate assessment tools and accuracy -- Cultural absolutism - a risk of institutional racism -- Cultural relativism - a risk to child safety -- Comparing and resolving 'cultural absolutism' versus 'cultural relativism' -- Implementing child-centred practice effectively with ethnic minority families -- Part II Practice issues -- 3 Frequency of maltreatment - what are the most common types of abuse and neglect reported across cultures and what is their effect on children? -- Primary and secondary types of abuse and neglect reported across cultures -- Co-morbidity: number of secondary types of maltreatment -- The effect of abuse and neglect on children -- 4 Culture and maltreatment - are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, inadequate supervision and neglect of basic needs related to culture? -- Physical abuse -- Sexual abuse -- Emotional abuse -- Inadequate supervision -- Neglect of basic needs