Documentation and record keeping are critical in managing a child placement case. Documentation should assist in tracking progress toward the case goal, guiding service delivery and decision-making, and pointing out when the case goal may need revision. Documentation and record keeping are also necessary requirements to meet federal, state, and local mandates. Documentation and record keeping should be viewed as a valuable tool to the social worker and supervisor, as well as to the Court. Not only does the case record provide a history of the child and family’s involvement, it also contains documents that constitute legal evidence. A comprehensive and up-to-date case record will alert the social worker and supervisor when required action is needed in the case, such as agency case reviews, court reviews, and contacts with the child, family, and others.
