Preparing Social Work Evidence in Care Proceedings

​The national social work evidence template (SWET) was launched in summer 2014 and all local authorities were encouraged to adopt it when submitting to court evidence to support and application for a care or supervision order. Its aim was to support local authority social workers in providing consistent and analytical court statements, in line with the Public Law Outline which requires succinct, clear social work analysis.
 
Following consultation, a review of the template and supporting documents was undertaken by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) which has resulted in the launch of a new updated social work evidence template.
 
So, what’s changed?

1. The accompanying guidance has been simplified and incorporated into the template
2. The templates thenselves have also been simplified
3. The final analysis template now uses the same headings as the basic template
4. The two relevant welfare checklists as set out in the Children Act 1989 and the Adoption and Children Act 2002 has been incorporated for ease of reference.

 
Social Work Evidence Template (revised February 2016)
Social Work Evidence Template – Final Evidence (revised February 2016)