Integrating document analysis with the core principles of critical social research, this article aims to dig beneath the surface of historically specific social structures of child welfare services. Analysing the descriptive content presented in 13 serious child safeguarding case reviews, formal reports published after the death or serious injury of a Romani or Traveller child in England, this article shines a light on how the child welfare system worked, including how ideology and the presence of reciprocated feelings of fear and helplessness concealed the processes that contributed to the harm that was experienced. Seeking to provide a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in policy, procedure and practice, the article concludes by reflecting on valuable learning points for child protection professionals working with Romani and Traveller children, families and communities.
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Allen et al. (2025) studied this question.
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