Towards Accountability in Social Work: A Case Review System for Social Workers

After discussing the huge undifferentiated tasks facing social workers in the social services departments, it is suggested that one of the most urgent research needs is the development of systematic record and review systems to provide basic information about social worker activities and their effects on different client groups. The development of a social worker oriented computerized Case Review System in close collaboraation with a group of fieldworkers in an area office is described. The system enables social workers to evaluate and plan their work for individual clients; it can assist the process of supervision; as a management tool it can contribute towards the planning of fieldwork services; as an information system it gives an on-going account of the size, nature and scope of social work activities with different client groups. So far the impact of the system has been to raise questions about practices and to encourage a climate favourable to change.