ABSTRACT

The history of recording in social work is as long as the history of modern social work. Moreover, the student’s record and recording have played an important part in social work education since formal training began. Recording is evidently of importance in social work but contemporary textbooks devote little or no space to the systematic discussion of the purpose, methods and use of such recording. The Young husband Report often failed to find any formulation of plans in the social work records of the health and welfare departments of the local authority. The whole concept of providing a social work service by the most appropriate officer or department breaks down if records do not contain basic data and significant facts. Good social work records are needed in these services. Insufficient information affects the department concerned as well as officers in other services which may be called in.