It’s All in the Record: Meeting the challenge of open recording

 It’s All in the Record: Meeting the challenge of open recording
 Liz O’Rourke and Hazel Grant, Russell House Publishing
 ISBN 1903855721, £29.95

 STAR RATING: 5/5

Case recording is often a neglected part of modern day social work practice and treated as an afterthought rather than central to practice, writes Melanie Birtchnell.

Time and again, inspection and joint review reports reveal weaknesses in case recording. This manual is the best place to start to make improvements.

The manual focuses mainly on the recording for older people’s services including the often unrecognised area of recording and sharing information from a home care perspective. There are a whole range of exercises and group activities to provoke conversation.

The authors acknowledge the difficulties practitioners have in satisfying their audience with their written accounts and gives helpful examples on what to do. The consideration of information sharing protocols is a welcome and thought provoking section.

Time is also spent on the area of what should you record – examining the long “war and peace” type of recording versus “short and sweet” versions. There are examples of both with a further example on what should be recorded. This manual is a necessary addition to your collection!

Melanie Birtchnell is team manager, older people’s service, Reading Council