Exploring concepts of child well-being: Implications for Children's Services (Studies in Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion)

Policy reforms to children's services in the UK, and elsewhere, encourage a greater focus on outcomes defined in terms of child well-being. For this to happen, a better understanding is needed of what child well-being is and how services can improve it. And unless child well-being can be measured, the necessary changes for success will be unknown. This book investigates the main approaches to conceptualizing child well-being in the UK, applies them to the child population using household survey and agency audit data, then considers the implications for children's services. The book provides a clear conceptual understanding of five definitions of well-being need, rights, poverty, quality of life, and social exclusion. It charts the levels of child well-being in an inner-London community, including violated rights, and social exclusion.