Understanding Parent Blame: Institutional Failure and Complex Trauma

Blame the parents. It’s a common reaction to any failure in children’s behaviour or to their safety, and yet so many issues – from education and economic to social care and mental health – arise from the failure of the state to provide adequate support to children and their families.

This edited collection brings together academics, practitioners and activists along with contributions from parents and young people who have experienced the trauma of being caught up in the process of blame. It explores the nature and causes of parent blame and interrogates its prevalence, impact and potential pathways for reform.