In this blog, we look in detail at the practice of record-keeping in children’s social care. Carry on reading to find out more about why it’s important and the mental health benefits for care-leavers.
What is record keeping?
Record-keeping in children’s care involves keeping important information and documents about a child to ensure their well-being and safety. It includes writing down details about the child, their needs, the care they receive – as well as what resulted in them ending up in care. These records help caregivers and professionals understand and meet the child’s unique requirements.
Why is it important?
Our sense of identity is often intertwined with specific objects and photographs which help explain who we are and where we’ve come from. However, children who have had a complex or traumatic upbringing can sometimes find it difficult to piece this narrative together – especially those with very few keepsakes or baby photos.
Record-keeping allows children who have been in care to fill gaps in their memory and give them a sense of belonging. For example, a care-leaver may wish to return to these records during their adult life to answer questions such as how they ended up in care or to learn who their biological parents are.
Without this knowledge, it can be challenging for people who grew up in care to accept themselves and could result in long-term low self-esteem and/or feelings of frustration.
What are the benefits?
Researchers at UCL conducted a study which focused on the experiences of children who had requested access to their records after leaving care.
Overall, the data provided strong evidence that care records are paramount to giving care receivers a sense of identity and chronology of their childhood.
It also found that a denial of access to autobiographical memories can have long-term negative impacts on the individual’s mental health and well-being.
Record-keeping is also a useful tool for caregivers as it allows them to keep track of the child’s learning development, their unique needs and important decisions that have been made during their time in care.
Which areas of record-keeping need improving?
Thousands of UK care leavers apply to see their records through the Data Protection Act to learn more about their past. Unfortunately, many people reported feeling disappointed by the information provided, as well as the long waiting periods to receive anything. Records are also frequently ‘redacted’, leaving the care-leaver with little/incomplete information.
The research project identified a need for improved record-keeping, with particular emphasis on the value of giving children in care a voice and letting them have an input when it comes to their records (e.g. voice recordings).
Here at Social Personnel, we believe service users should receive the highest quality of support through their time in care and beyond. That’s why we are committed to proving clients with the best personnel in the social world. Give us a call on 0203 8929 340 to find out more about working with us.
carlette Isaac
In this blog, we look in detail at the practice of record-keeping in children’s social care. Carry on reading to find out more about why it’s important and the mental health benefits for care-leavers.
What is record keeping?
Record-keeping in children’s care involves keeping important information and documents about a child to ensure their well-being and safety. It includes writing down details about the child, their needs, the care they receive – as well as what resulted in them ending up in care. These records help caregivers and professionals understand and meet the child’s unique requirements.
Why is it important?
Our sense of identity is often intertwined with specific objects and photographs which help explain who we are and where we’ve come from. However, children who have had a complex or traumatic upbringing can sometimes find it difficult to piece this narrative together – especially those with very few keepsakes or baby photos.
Record-keeping allows children who have been in care to fill gaps in their memory and give them a sense of belonging. For example, a care-leaver may wish to return to these records during their adult life to answer questions such as how they ended up in care or to learn who their biological parents are.
Without this knowledge, it can be challenging for people who grew up in care to accept themselves and could result in long-term low self-esteem and/or feelings of frustration.
What are the benefits?
Researchers at UCL conducted a study which focused on the experiences of children who had requested access to their records after leaving care.
Overall, the data provided strong evidence that care records are paramount to giving care receivers a sense of identity and chronology of their childhood.
It also found that a denial of access to autobiographical memories can have long-term negative impacts on the individual’s mental health and well-being.
Record-keeping is also a useful tool for caregivers as it allows them to keep track of the child’s learning development, their unique needs and important decisions that have been made during their time in care.
Which areas of record-keeping need improving?
Thousands of UK care leavers apply to see their records through the Data Protection Act to learn more about their past. Unfortunately, many people reported feeling disappointed by the information provided, as well as the long waiting periods to receive anything. Records are also frequently ‘redacted’, leaving the care-leaver with little/incomplete information.
The research project identified a need for improved record-keeping, with particular emphasis on the value of giving children in care a voice and letting them have an input when it comes to their records (e.g. voice recordings).
Here at Social Personnel, we believe service users should receive the highest quality of support through their time in care and beyond. That’s why we are committed to proving clients with the best personnel in the social world. Give us a call on 0203 8929 340 to find out more about working with us.