Fairbairn’s object relations theory and social work in child welfare

Fairbairn’s biographer, John Sutherland (1989) wrote, “The profoundest appreciation of any thinker’s ideas is surely to explore where they lead” (p. x). It is this author’s sincere hope that the application of Fairbairn’s thought to the field of child welfare is a tribute to the contribution he has made to social work and related fields.