This article examines issues of violence against social work staff in England and Wales. Although there is a good representation of work addressing how individuals can best try to cope for themselves when confronted with violence, there is little published material that refers specifically to agency strategies that can best support workers in the front line of service provision. The underreporting of violence is considered, and the implications of this are discussed in relation to planning procedures that can help prevent violence. Particular attention is paid to issues of gender and ethnicity.
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