Pointers for Practice: Recording During s47 Enquiries

Busy practitioners involved in completing s47 enquiries may delay recording activity as it occurs.

Delays in recording can result in:

significant information being missed;
distorted perceptions as to why particular decisions and actions were taken at the time;
events and actions being confused and/or distorted;
detail being forgotten.

Findings from child practice reviews in Wales indicate that delays in recording can result in a failure on the part of practitioners to note activity which has proved to be significant later, for example during court proceedings.

It is important to note that case records are the official account of what has occurred and should be comprehensive.

Further information:

Hardy R (2017) Tips for social workers on case recording and record keeping. Community Care, (Accessed 15/7/2019)