On caseworkers’ writing in child welfare − when less is more

Abstract

This article describes the fragmentary and sometimes incoherent way caseworkers record cases in child welfare work. While recording practices are often criticised and the relevance of the case records, for both the child welfare services and their clients, may be questioned, the analysis in this article argues that caseworkers record for immediate and anticipated purposes of accounting for correct professional practice. Through brief and indicative writing styles, seemingly incomplete records are adequate to document the fulfilling of legal requirement and legitimate professional assessments and actions. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that purposeful vagueness allows for future re-interpretations of cases, giving leeway to act in unanticipated future situations. The article is based on a contextual analysis of 13 case records from two Norwegian child welfare frontline offices. The analysis is illustrated with examples from one of the cases, which include ethnographic material gathered during the one-year trajectory of casework.

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