Discussion covers the setting of Liverpool; child care as part of the personal social services; intake; the legal framework for child care -- care order, supervision orders, and voluntary reception into care; the nonaccidental injury section; the Area Review Committee; the register; case conference; identification of child abuse; referrals; investigation; and management of child abuse. The local social workers conduct the majority of child abuse investigations and deal with all children under a care order. A local authority includes a number of professional and administrative staff employed by the local city or county. The British system for dealing with nonaccidental injury and child abuse relies on the multidisciplinary case conference for communication and coordination of services. Liverpool holds around 400 conferences a year; the number is increasing. These conferences involve several professional people with different perspectives, depending on their responsibility for the child or family. A case history demonstrates some of the procedures followed and highlights the importance of the multidisciplinary team in the investigation and management of child abuse. Twenty references are listed.