THREAD: Received care files from my local authority today - wasn’t sure what to expect, but didn’t expect this. If you write records for children, please take note: To begin, my first name isn’t even spelt correctly. Just take a second to check. And yes, it matters.
Next, please don’t put allegations in inverted commas. It is cruel and unnecessary - our experiences, whether or not you believe them, do not need to be subject to what comes across as sarcastic/undermining punctuation. That stuff hurts.
Ditch jargon. Saying a child’s basic needs are met & they have appropriate clothing might be normal parlance in your team, but probably means nothing to the person reading it. Ask yourself whether the info has value and if it does, how to say it simply & with meaning.
Next are some thoughts on actual content. If a child presents at A&E and you tick ‘No Further Action’, you need to be able to justify why, because all I have are questions which will never be answered. I’m left thinking that the dots don’t join up & someone didn’t do their job.
Be mindful of adultification, especially for 16/17 year olds. One case note says I was advised to travel 200 miles back to my unregulated placement alone due to my ‘age & independence’. No questions asked or follow-up care given. The absence of care is stark #KeepCaringto18
I know how stressful it is to write good case notes when time is scarce. But remember - you’re not just typing to a screen. You’re writing to a human being potentially months, years, or decades from now. You can’t make it a painless read, but there are ways to lessen that pain./
As I come to terms with what was written about me & why (& I haven’t shared the worst), one thing strikes me: I don’t think the authors of these cold, inaccurate case notes ever dreamed I’d read them. Perhaps they didn’t think a CEP had the wherewithal to do an SAR request?
Maybe they assumed someone like me wouldn’t understand my rights. If you’re CE & want to access files but have never been told how, here’s some info via @CareLeavers. It’s a small step to tipping the power imbalance. And that’s coming from a social worker: careleavers.com/what-we-do/acc…
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