Articles #loving care

The article examines the UK government’s “Stable Homes Built on Love” children’s social care strategy and argues that the inclusion of “love” is less a deliberate distraction and more a sign of idealism that overlooks the realities of professional practice and policy history. It explores why the term can feel jarring in social work, where boundaries protect both children and staff, and questions whether “love” can be meaningfully embedded in frameworks like knowledge and skills statements, professional registration, and CPD. The piece concludes that without a clear definition, “love” risks becoming an empty slogan rather than a practical guide for improvement.