Assessing Attachment

Dr George Hibbert. Attachment is widely referred to in the family courts but is poorly understood by many social workers, children's guardians and health visitors, and even by some child psychologists and psychiatrists. Many childcare professionals have not kept up to date and do not understand current attachment theories, the significance of attachment in children and adults or how it is assessed at different ages. Lawyers need to be able to assess whether the professional giving evidence on attachment knows what they are talking about and to have a sufficient understanding to avoid being misled. This item summarises the key information about attachment needed by solicitors, barristers and judges hearing expert evidence in child care cases. See February [2007] Fam Law for the full article.

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