Guidelines for Casework Recording

Record is a dynamic and flexible instrument hence no

hard and fast rules can be prescribed. The casework

record should reflect an orderly way of thinking which

can be done through a flexible use of process,

summarized and condensed recording so that the

recorded material becomes a positive aid to the worker

in his/her practice.

The following guidelines however may be observed:

1) Maintain a field work diary

While in the field you must carry with you a field

work diary. This diary is used for writing, events

and incidences as they happen during the day. They

may cover such things as names, addresses, dates,

and details of interviews with the client and

collaterals, observations, inferences and any other

such relevant information. From this jumbled up

data you are then expected to organise

systematically the available information into a

formal case record. The daily process record may

comprise the following:

a) Conduct the interview, write in narrative style

the questions asked and the way they were

answered or in other words write about the

interview as it took place. The observation

should be suitable recorded such as the

mannerisms, expressions, gestures, hesitation,

silence, resistance, discomfort, emotions

expressed, refusal to answer, certain questions

etc. The record should also reflect significant

reactions of the client such as changes in mood

and responses, body language, the subjects from

which the client tends to shy away or finds

difficult to discuss.

b) Extra information on environmental factors,

relationships with those around gathered with

home visits or any other source could be

mentioned. Letters or other such documents

could be attached. At the end of report you

should give your inferences and interpretation.

You should indicate the meaning you derived

from the events and incidents and reasons for

it. You should conclude by briefly outlining your

plans for the next meeting or the next steps

you propose to take, in other words your future

plan with respect to that case. This may

include:

1) areas to be covered in the next interview

2) collaterals to be contacted

3) information to be obtained for the next

meeting

How to Collect and Organise Data

The caseworker can use the following tools and devices

for collecting data:

1) Face sheet/Intake sheet

2) Eco-map

3) Genogram

Face Sheet/Intake Sheet

Face sheet or intake sheet as some prefer to call it is

generally filled in at the initial phase of the casework

process. Most of the social work agencies have a more

or less standardized proforma which has blanks for

entries to be made by the worker related to the

identification data such as name, age, occupation, family

profile and other such information. The purpose of the

face sheet is to give in a convenient form the objective

social facts or situation of the client of a permanent

character to particularize the case.

Genogram

A family genogram is the graphic representation of one’s

family tree. It gives a pictorial representation of the

members along with a chronological statement of

significant events. It helps in assessing a person’s

psychosocial characteristics or the interactional

patterns of the family. The caseworker organising the

information can make it brief or extensive depending

on the purpose it is to serve.

Eco-map

Though family experiences are significant, people are

also greatly affected by the social context in which they

live. Our record will not be complete if we do not depict

this social context. An eco-map is an effective tool for

this purpose.

According to Hartman (1978) an ecomap is an extremely

useful tool for portraying the social context, because it

provides a diagrammatic representation of a person’s

social world. In addition to presenting an overview of a

person, family or household in context, the eco-map

readily identifies the energy-enhancing and energydepleting

relationships between members of a primary

social system (e.g. family or household) and the outside

world. The graphic nature of the eco-map highlights

social strengths and social deficiencies and helps to

identify areas of conflict and compatibility. It often

indicates areas where change may be needed. The ecomap

is a natural adjunct to the genogram.