‘Write Right About Me’: Writing the Voices of Children and Young People into Their Care Records

In this paper we outline a multi-agency collaborative project which focuses on a key concern: the absence of the voices of care-experienced children and young people in records written about them. The Aberdeen, Scotland based project, WRAM Write Right About me, took place over three years involving regular interprofessional meetings – from social work, health, education, policing, housing, youth justice– and collaboration with the Lead Investigator of the first national (UK) research study on social work writing WiSP, Writing in social work professional practice. This article documents the core problem the team sought to explore, the processes involved, the use of WiSP research findings and theoretical approach to articulate the ‘problem’ and early indications of the impact of the project: on professional practice, resource building and policy. The paper emphasises the relevance of WRAM internationally, arguing for the value of a sociohistorical orientation towards ensuring that the voices of children and young people are written into their care records as a fundamental aspect of ethical care.