3.1 Language in social work writing
The language, or way in which you write, is likely to vary depending on whether you are writing a case note, an assessment report or an email. This can be related to the level of formality but also whether you are mainly describing events or using your professional judgement to provide analysis or make a recommendation. The next activity asks you to think again about different types of documents and the language that might be used in them.
Activity 6 Thinking about language in social work documents
Complete the following table, again thinking about the text types of Case Notes, Assessment Reports and Emails. For each one, think about the language that you would use. You can think about the following questions:
- How formal informal would the language be?
- Would the document be written in a template using prescribed section headings?
- Would you be including mainly description?
- Would you include analysis?
- Would you include a recommendation?
| Case Note | Assessment Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal or informal language? | |||
| Needs a template? | |||
| Include description? | |||
| Include analysis? | |||
| Include recommendations? |
Answer
You might have thought that it would depend who the recipient of an email was, your relationship with the person and/ or their role. You may have thought that all or most professional documents should be quite formal. It is always important to think about the specific document and purpose in your practice area of social work, and if you are required, or if it is useful, to use a template. It is also essential to think about the language of the person you are writing about or to. What might be the issues if most communication is in English? You might be working with someone whose first language is not English. If you are working in Wales you will also be working with the active offer which will also be central to written texts. Adapting to the specific needs of individual people you are working with will also extend to considering how writing is clear for people who have Dyslexia. Considering individual audiences will therefore remain key. It is essential to reflect on these issues when you are undertaking your practice learning. We have collated our notes across these questions for each document type in the table below.
| Case Note | Assessment Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Describing language e.g. reporting what has happened, is happening (James has reoffended) Analytic language e.g. the social worker’s professional judgement (Sarah lacks insight into her needs and any risks faced). |
Describing language e.g. reporting what has happened, is happening James has reoffended Analytic language e.g. the social worker’s professional judgement (Sarah lacks insight into her needs and any risks faced). Recommendations for actions/services Often structured by templated headings (e.g. health, education, nutrition, capacity.) |
Greetings Requesting and giving information about people, meetings, services Thanking/acknowledging actions carried out |
Considering these questions helps to recognise what and how you write in your social work practice. The following sections explore this further, including types of writing and understanding in more detail the difference between description and analysis.