Documenting Contacts and Court Reports: Putting it Together

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworker

Credits: 3

Intended Audience: New and experienced social workers

Intended Objectives:

• Demonstrate the ability to use observation terms in identifying and expressing case observations that accurately reflect home visits, office visits, and client contact
• Identify what information needs to be documented in case records
• State how purpose driven contacts with families, caregivers, and collaterals impact the court report
• Demonstrate the ability to record information in clear and concise way
• Recognize documentation needs for specialized case record sections
• Describe how contacts are used to form a comprehensive court report

Topics Include:

• Specific documentation within CMS/CWS on topics including but not limited to
• Educational needs, ICWA, visitation, ILP and services to incarcerated parents
• Purpose driven documentation of contacts
• Does and don’ts tips in documentation
• Case documentation of facts vs opinion

CalSWEC Competencies Addressed:

1.1 Worker demonstrates respect, fairness, and cultural competences in assessing, working with, and making service decisions regarding clients of diverse backgrounds.

2.5 Worker demonstrates the ability to collaborate with individuals, groups, community- based organizations and government agencies to advocate for equitable assess to culturally competent resources and services.

3.14 Worker understands the principles of concurrent and permanency planning that takes into account the educations, health, and emotional needs of children.

3.19 Worker understands state and federal policy issues and child welfare legal requirements and demonstrates the capacity to fulfill these requirements in practice.

4.7 Worker demonstrates knowledge of the philosophy, purpose, requirements, and application of federal and state child welfare policy and legislation.