Case Recording: Concept

After the interviewing process is over the caseworker

has the obligation to record the interview. The language

of interview now has to be translated into the language

of the record (file, forms, computer).

According to Kadushin recording can be seen as a part

of the interview process. Through the act of recording

the interview continues in the mind of the interviewer

after it is terminated. It is a retrospective living of the

encounter. As a consequence the interviewer of

necessity, has to selectively decide which aspects of

the interview were more significant. She has to

systematically organise a somewhat chaotic experience.

What is a Case Record?

A record literally means ‘a formal writing of any fact or

proceeding’ and when used as a verb means ‘to set down

in writing or other permanent form’.

Taking cue from this we can define case record as a

written account of the casework proceedings.

However, from the above statement one should not

conclude that case recording is an easy, routine and

simple task, far from it, its a highly skilled and complex

task. Recording is an important and integral part of

casework procedure and is an output of the activity of

the casework. The importance of recording lies both in

the process as well as the product.

For, an individual who is planning to become a

caseworker, the art of record writing is worth striving

to develop and perfect, not only because case recording

is an essential part of good casework and is becoming a

more important factor with the increasing complexity

of social treatment, but also because the case record

is fortunately or unfortunately often used as one of

the important indexes of the caseworkers ability.

A question often asked is, why do we need to write

records? Do they really serve any purpose? The

importance of case records can be ascertained when

we look at their functions and the varied purposes they

serve.