Any practitioner who begins work in the difficult and unique professional arena of public protection feels that they are entering a different world, made up of its own unique processes and guidelines and which, on many occasions, appears to have a language of its own.

This long-awaited second edition of our best-selling book has been fully updated by its expert editors, Dr Russell Wate QPM and Nigel Boulton, both former police officers and current specialist consultants in safeguarding. It has been considerably expanded to include new legislation and guidance (including full compliance with Working Together 2018), as well as to tackle contemporary issues that are of much concern to workers in today's safeguarding arena, including: lived experience of children; gangs and county lines; unaccompanied minors; private fostering; modern slavery; edge of care and transitioning; young carers; GDPR; safeguarding in non-statutory settings; and harmful cultural practices. The book is a vital aid to all those working in the field of child and adult services. It provides a valuable overview of the major and very different areas of public protection practice. It aims to translate the processes, guidelines, and language to provide a workable understanding of the varied areas of practice that may impact their own working lives.