BACKGROUND OF THE ENGLISH ARRANGEMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE IS PRESENTED. THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERMENT IS DISCUSSED. STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY UNDER LEGISLATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 IS NOT VESTED WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUT IN THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, WHO ARE REQUIRED TO ACT UNDER THE GENERAL GUIDANCE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS. ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS WITHIN THE CHILD CARE FIELD IS THE PREVENTION, RECOGNITION, MANAGEMENT, AND TREATMENT OF CASES OF NONACCIDENTAL INJURY AND REHABILITATION WORK WITH ABUSING FAMILIES. THE PRIMARY ROLE IS GENERALLY ASSUMED BY LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WHILE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ACT TO INSURE ADEQUATE LEGISLATIVE PROVISION, TO ISSUE GUIDANCE TO RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES, TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF NONACCIDENTAL INJURY, AND TO SUPPORT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND FUND RESEARCH. LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO SUCH ABUSE-RELATED EFFORTS IS SUMMARIZED. THE NATURE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS AT GUIDANCE ARE DISCUSSED. GENERALLY, THIS GUIDANCE HAS LAID PARTICULAR STRESS ON THE NEED FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE TO POOL THEIR INFORMATION AND COORDINATE THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE SO AS JOINTLY TO DECIDE ON THE BEST ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROVIDING CAR AND TREATMENT TO ABUSING FAMILIES. AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO SET UP AREA REVIEW COMMITTEES AS A FORUM AMONG REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE AGENCIES, AUTHORITIES, AND PROFESSIONS INVOLVED. THE USE OF CASE CONFERENCES HAS ALSO BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR ALL CASES INVOLVING SUSPECTED NONACCIDENTAL INJURY. AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN URGED TO SET UP A CENTRAL REGISTER OF INFORMATION ON CHILD ABUSE IN EACH AREA; THE NATURE OF THESE REGISTERS IS DISCUSSED. THE DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROMOTION OF PROFESSIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF ASPECTS OF NONACCIDENTAL INJURY ARE DISCUSSED, AND CHANNELS OF SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND RESEARCH EFFORTS ARE OUTLINED. ALTHOUGH NO NATIONAL STATISTICS ON CHILD ABUSE ARE COLLECTED, ESTIMATES CULLED FROM REPORTS BY THE VARIOUS LOCAL AUTHORITIES NOTE THAT EACH YEAR SOME 3,500 TO 4,500 CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OCCUR, OF WHICH 250 TO 450 MAY PROVE FATAL. (KBL)