Chronologies

Overview

A chronology lists in date order all the major changes and events in a child or young person’s life. In a recent High Court judgement Justice Bracewell included a chronology among the records the court would expect to find in a social work file. A chronology can be a useful way of gaining an overview of events in a child or a young person’s life. The chronology should be used by practitioners as an analytical tool to help them to understand the impact, both immediate and cumulative, of events and changes on the child or young person’s developmental progress.

Who is Chronologies aimed at?

All those who work regularly with children and young people and adults who are parents/carers including: practitioners contributing to assessments of children in need and children in need of protection, Social Workers and Social Work Assistants in Children & Families, Adult Social Workers, Residential Social Workers, Family Centre Workers, Education Welfare Officers, Hospital, Community (including GPs and Practice Nurses) and Mental Health Staff, Police Officers, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Educational Psychologists, Day Care Staff, Professional Youth Workers, Probation Officers, and Mentors etc

Course Length

1 day

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will:

• Understand what Chronologies are, why they matter and who they are for
• Know how and when to do Chronologies
• Be able to use Chronologies as a key tool in assessment, unravelling the complexity of family dynamics and help to identify and address needs and risks