uce the power disparity between children and adults; allowing children to have a say on decisions that will impact on their future lives through listening to the individuals thoughts and opinions whilst considering that children have rights too. It is of upmost importance, that those working with children use this approach, continually keeping up-to-date with current laws and legislation within this area.
             Having an understanding of how social policy has changed over the years is also an important factor to consider; giving us a clear understanding of how policies and legislation have changed in order to improve outcomes for children in relation to available resources, shared responsibilities and managing risk.
             "Yet social policy, unlike law, has the potential to be proactive – to set in place a series of principles that define a just and inclusive society and practical but flexile ways of implementing them". (Hendrick, 2008, p. 336) In the UK, Parliament is responsible for making changes to law. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen, they must all agree to any new law before it can be passed and become an Act of Parliament. There is not just a single law in place to protect children but a multitude of laws, legislation and guidance which cover all aspects of children's care in the UK. (Alcock et al. 2008, p.19-25). Past information about social policy offers us a view of the past and how it has changed, as Harold Perkin said "We want to know not only what laws were made or battles fought or even how men [sic] got their living, but what it felt like to be alive, how men [sic] in history – not merely kings and popes, statesmen and tycoons – lived and worked and thought and behaved towards each other." (Perkin, 1981, p. 24)
             In 1945 the Welfare State was created, this offered a new focal point towards the children's physical health to coincide...