Report Writing and Recording Skills

This course aims to equip learners with the skills, knowledge and confidence to record their work with service users clearly, accurately and in the appropriate formats and requirements of their agency.
The course is set within the context of the need to ensure that there is a more consistent standard of recording within all services. The organisation needs to develop recording to more actively respond to the Government’s drive on minimising the use of jargon and the greater use of plain English, making records and reports more accessible to service users.
The course certificates will provide details of NVQ and CIS links

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course learners should understand:

• The purpose and function of recording
• Why recording needs to be executed in a professional and systematic way and
what this means
• Who sets the standard; references to policies and the BASW Code of Practice
• How effective recording benefits the service user
• How effective recording benefits the worker and the service
• The potential consequences of poor recording
• How much to record-fitting purpose
• The importance of using simple English
        -how this benefits all
        -how this corresponds with social work values
        -how it responds to Government objectives
        -how it can aid in the process of ‘empowerment’ and ‘inclusion’
        -how it can counter passivity & ‘resistance’
• What is meant by ‘objective’ recording; dealing with our own:
        -Bias
        -Prejudice
        -Assumptions
        -Stereotyping etc
• How our ‘unconscious can ‘act out’ through recording:
        -Generalisations
        -Unnecessary emphasis
        -Exclusions
        -Additions etc
• The use of non-judgmental language
• How jargon and abbreviations can alienate people
• How recording needs to reflect the Diversity policy
• The appropriate use of:
        -Headings
        -Subheadings
        -Numbering
        -Introductions
        -Summaries
        -Conclusions
        -Appendixes etc
• Readability issues; the need to consider:
        -Style
        -Clarity
        -Spelling
        -Grammar
        -General presentation etc
• Specific recording relating to the organisation’s policies, procedures and
processes:
        -Risk
        -Safeguarding issues etc
• Confidentiality & Data Protection:
        -What to record
        -Who has access
        -Storage
        -Disclosure
        -The need to know etc

Training methods:

• Individual written work • OHP/PowerPoint
• Word shower • Pairs work
• Group work • Chalk & Talk
• Tutor Presentations • Role Play
• Feedback • Handouts
• Energisers

CP256/7.9