NRS-19571 | Handover books [Endeavour House, Tamworth]

This series consists of volumes of handwritten notes giving brief accounts of each officer's shift, including any issues that might need to be dealt with by following shifts, any breaches of conduct, and observations about the residents. Prior to 1979 these were known as muster books.Each book is arranged chronologically, with individual officers entering their own daily comments, including notes about the attitude of the group as a whole, and about individual boys. The early muster books consist only of brief notes and list the names of residents who fall into various categories (e.g. bad conduct, bad attitude). From 1976 this changes to notes about time spent on duty by the relevant officer, number of residents handed over from one shift to the next, duties carried out, and any comments on the residents. Until mid-1978, these notes were not very detailed, before beginning to expand to provide a fuller account of each shift, incidents taking place, and notes on individual residents. From February 1984 there was a column added to each page for the supervising officer to note any action taken with regard to matters reported, and to sign off that the notes had been seen. The 1987-1989 Handover Book has a more structured format, similar to that of the Daily Reports (NRS 19631), recording details of unit strength, work assigned, recreational activities organised, and comments by officers working all shifts (morning, afternoon and night).