What constitutes the record?

Introduction

It is important to differentiate between the casefile and the case record. In this training and resource pack we have used the term case record to refer to all the records, both written and computerised, held by social services on an individual child or young person.

The casefile stores written information about an individual child or young person. It will typically include a basic information sheet, contact and detailed records, an assessment and re-assessments, plans, reports and correspondence, from within social services and other agencies involved with the child or young person.

The case record may be made up of several casefiles, which may be held in different parts of the agency. It is important that these casefiles are cross-referenced with one another and that important information is transferred between casefiles. This will generally be achieved through the agencies computer system, which should keep a record of all casefiles and their location and status, i.e. open, closed, pended and by regular case summaries which can be copied to all agency practitioners working with a case. For example the practitioner's summary can be copied to the residential key worker and the key worker's summary can be copied to the practitioner.

It is important that all the casefiles which constitute an individual's case record are well maintained and kept safe as family members who may have to access the case record will have the right to access information from all the casefiles relating to the individual child or young person.

Below are details of four children and young people. Click on any one of them to identify what should constitute the record in each case.