The article discusses the effects of violence against social workers by clients of child protection services, and effective means to support workers and their practice. It argues that the effects of such violence and aggression should be given greater credence in models of risk assessment and in interventions to more effectively protect children and staff. In a large proportion of the most serious situations of child abuse, there is inherent conflict between the role of the protection agency and the reactions of a small but significantly threatening number of clients who are not only aggressive and violent to partners and children but also to protection workers. When workers exercise authority, they are challenging the power, authority, and control nexus within that family and its networks. This challenge to the adults' control sometimes results in violence and intimidation of the workers. The article suggests ways to create a culture of support for social workers, including staff training and ensuring that client violence to staff is viewed as a health-and-safety-at-work issue. Appendix, references, bibliography