Relationships, Reviews and Recording: Developing Practice for Children in Care

Abstract

The relationships that children in care have with social workers and how their experiences are recorded has been identified as a key area of development for social work practice. This paper reports on a small-scale, qualitative evaluation of an approach to working with children in care launched in Brighton and Hove called Me and My World. Core principles of the model are explained including continuity of relationship between social workers and children in care; a statutory review process which promotes participation of the child and young person and a recording system where social workers, IRO’s and foster carers write reports for review directly to the child. The methodology is detailed including documentary analysis, focus groups with social workers, IRO’s and foster carers and semi-structured interviews with children in care. This article focuses on findings from one area of the evaluation – writing to the child. It demonstrates how writing directly to the child supports child-centred, accessible reports which focus on strengths, achievements and promotes explanations and aids life story work. Findings also show how writing to the child provides meaning in role for social workers, IRO’s and foster carers and enables them to hold in mind that the report will be read by the child. Opportunities for further development are explored including the importance of social workers and IRO’s ensuring depth and breadth of information; consistent inclusion of children’s own voice in reports and strategies to ensure reports have a life beyond the computer screen.

Keywords:

• children in care
• statutory reviews
• child-centred reports
• relationship-based practice
• life story work

Acknowledgements

With thanks to the children and young people, foster carers, social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers who implemented the model and shared their experiences. Also, to Professor Gillian Ruch for her encouragement and support throughout the evaluation.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no declarations of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Watts

Rebecca Watts, Children's Services, Brighton and Hove City Council, Moulsecoomb Hub South, Hodshrove Lane, Brighton BN2 4SE, UK. Email: [email protected]