An up to date chronology should be a requirement for every open case. It enables practitioners to gain a more accurate picture of the whole case and is an effective tool for informing the assessment of service users and their families.

Social workers should regularly update chronologies so that they reflect the ‘here and now’. A chronology is not an assessment in itself but it is an ongoing, analytical tool which social workers can use to help them understand what is happening in the child and/or families life.