[Mobilizing role of mandates from the authorities and for placement in social intervention on behalf of abused children].

The results of the study of 12 cases in which a social worker had to work with the family at home is the subject of this paper. The author observes that child abuse and neglect is linked with highly variable psychosocial situations. The main problems may be marital conflict, disturbed emotional ties, psychosis. A unique guideline type of policy cannot be applied to such a variety of circumstances. The second observation is that the intervention of the social workers is much more effective when supported by a mandate from the protective authorities. That is if the social worker has the ability to request placement for the maltreated child, his action is more likely to be successful. The author concludes that the efficacy of the social worker's intervention depends both on the kind of problems which the family is facing as well as the technical means at the disposal of the social worker.