Duty of Care in the Human Services
Mishaps, Misdeeds and the Law

This book addresses the response of law and quasi-legal bodies to human service failures.

Rosemary Kennedy (Author)

9780521720243, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 October 2009

334 pages
23.4 x 15.6 x 1.8 cm, 0.48 kg

The human services are established to support the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society. Yet media and other reports frequently highlight a disturbing picture of industry failures, malpractice and abuse. This book addresses the response of legal and quasi-legal bodies to human service failures. It outlines those areas of law which are most likely to be activated by human service shortcomings, and those aspects of direct human service delivery which are most likely to attract legal attention. Essential reading for those studying or working in human services and social work, this book is designed to alert people to the legal risks arising as a result of inadequate human service delivery.

Acknowledgements
Author's note
Part I. Positioning and Mapping the Territory of Human Service Mishaps and Misdeeds: 1. The shadow world
2. Ideals, actors and actions
Part II. Mishaps and Misdeeds Through a Law Lens: 3. Public law of general application
4. Public law of particular relevance to the human services
5. Private law and suits
6. Private law - negligence
7. Private law - other torts and civil actions
8. Legal processes, quasi and indirect legal scrutiny
Part III. Mishaps and Misdeeds Through a Human Service Lens: 9. Service delivery - screening, assessment and planning
10. Service delivery - implementation and closure
11. Information and records management
12. Relationships, rifts and reactions
Part IV. Mishaps and Misdeeds Through a Unified Lens: 13. The consequences lottery
14. Coda
Appendix A. Finding the law and cases
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Medical ethics & professional conduct [MBDC], Medical & healthcare law [LNTM], Laws of Specific jurisdictions [LN]