Records, handover and making sure nothing important gets lost

Transitions break down more often because specific information is missing than because people lack goodwill. A new placement can be undermined by poor handover about risk, routines, contact arrangements, medication, school, trusted adults, sensory needs, fears, strengths or bedtime supports. The child then experiences avoidable mistakes that clear records would have prevented.

Good handover lets another team act immediately. It should state what is unresolved, where there is uncertainty, and what matters most in the short term. Vague or over-polished handovers protect staff, not the child.

What effective handover should keep visible

• Immediate risk: what the next team must know to keep the child safe now.
• Daily living detail: routines, food, sleep, communication and triggers.
• Appointments and tasks: what is due and what still needs arranging.
• Key relationships: who matters to the child and who helps most.
• What is uncertain: do not disguise gaps as clarity.

If the next team cannot tell what matters most in the first week, the handover is not finished yet.