Social work recording: A new look at an old issue

Recording is an integral component of social work practice. The focus of recording has changed in recent years as social work records have become increasingly important measures of accountability and of organizational and professional effectiveness. Technology and concerns about defensive practice are also changing the nature of social work recording. At the same time, many old issues remain unresolved, including concerns about client privacy, style, and content. For more than 50 years, social work educators have been criticized for failing to teach recording skills, yet today few texts and curricula on recording exist. Most social work students graduate inadequately equipped for their recording responsibilities. This article proposes some approaches and resources for integrating recording into classroom instruction.