Slide 1 Putting the “heart” back into record-keeping for children and young people in out-of-home care Dr Margaret Kertesz & Prof. Cathy Humphreys University of Melbourne

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Strand A: Archives, Records and Digital Technologies Strand B: Current Practice Strand C: Historical Research (Pathways – Find and Connect) Strand D: Consumer Perspectives Who Am I? WHO AM I? PROJECT Slide 3

The Knowledge Diamond  Research Evidence  Practitioner Wisdom  Consumer Experience  Policy Perspectives

Who Am I? Workshop Series Who does the organisation think I am? (Current practices and issues in making and keeping the child’s record) Co-constructing Who Am I? (Ensuring the voice of the child or young person is at the heart of ‘the record) Who am I in my cultural tradition and community context? Who am I? Learning and development for record keeping to support identity:

Research questions - Current Practice A. What principles should underpin record- keeping and archival programs for children and young people currently in out of home care to support their on-going construction of identity? B. What are the factors which enable or create barriers to effective practice in record keeping and archival programs for front line workers, managers and organisations providing out of home care?

Records relevant to identity The Personal Record: Identity Documents Medical Records Educational Records Family History Life Story Information History of Care Slide 7

Life story Pyramid Slide 8 1. Basic Identity and Records 2. History and Memory Keeping 3. Therapy and Meaning Making

Current state of record keeping in Victoria Records contain many types of information Records are “fragmented” Records are not child-focussed The importance of records for supporting identity is now recognised in: National out-of-home care standards (Std 10) Victorian Dept of Human Services Standards (Std 4.2) Slide 9

2010: points of Identity Data Accessibility Exercise - what records were locatable and accessible? Current placement information easy to find. Medical information in multiple locations Birth certificates difficult to obtain Life story materials patchy Little information from previous placements. Slide 10

2011: A Backpack of Identity What happens to records when young people change placement? Transfer of information at placement change is not routine Lack of clear guidelines / policies / responsibilities Organisational policy varies – general focus on privacy rather than how to share information safely Life story work is low priority – where life story exists, continuity across placements relies on the young person’s interest. Slide 11

Practitioners’ Assumptions Young people are not interested in their records. If it is in the file, it can be found easily in the future. Care leavers will always be assisted and supported by a professional when accessing their file. Archivists in the future will understand the context of today’s decision-making and terminology. Gathering information / keeping records is a barrier to “the real work”. Slide 12

The story OF the record - What is written now is part of the archive A portable personal record– pass on information at points of transition: placement change return home transition to independent living Records management – track and record the location of individual records (eg. birth certificate, medical reports etc.) Slide 13

The story IN the record - the child at the centre of the record Write for the child as part of your audience Write in plain English, avoiding jargon Collaborate and consult with young people in the construction of all records Records should be accurate, balanced, coherent, readable, accountable and accessible Slide 14