Quality Protects: A Commentary on the Government's Agenda and the Evidence Base.

Quality Protects was introduced in 1998 as the government's main initiative to improve children's social services. This review considers the aims, origins and intended effects of the policy. While applauding the attempt to improve services, attention is drawn to four areas on which progress will depend: better performance indicators; the extent and quality of research based evidence; the expansion of professional social work training and user feedback and involvement. The first of the Quality Protects objectives on promoting secure attachment is highlighted and the evidence for the current emphasis on adoption is considered. The article concludes that the extent of progress that is being made to help children and families in difficulty will need to be assessed by systematic research as well as by routine service performance indicators.