It is important that social work students and practitioners alike understand the issues surrounding need, risk and protection. Recent policy changes, particularly those initiated in Scotland, have prompted many practitioners to reassess how they deal with these issues in everyday practice and how they approach the complex area of risk assessment.<BR><BR>Written in two parts, the first examines the conceptual issues of need, protection and vulnerability and how psychological, sociological and social policy perspectives are crucial to greater understanding. The second part focuses on practice issues and debates surrounding vulnerability, risk and need. There are numerous practical examples from legal issues, to policy and practice contexts, to a debate around the ethical dilemmas faced by the social work practitioner who must understand and apply these issues.<BR><BR>There are chapters on working with different areas of practice including children and families, mental health, older people, drug and substance misusers and those people in the criminal justice system.