These free printable Since Last Time I Saw You Conversation Cards are a PDF resource created as part of a social work toolkit for direct work with children. These child-friendly cards are designed to support social workers, family support workers, youth workers, foster carers, and therapists in capturing the voice of the child during visits, assessments, and reviews.
Each card contains a simple, engaging prompt that helps children talk about their feelings, daily experiences, and wishes in a safe and structured way. Questions encourage them to share both positives and challenges—such as “Something that made me smile,” “A time I felt safe,” “Someone who hurt me,” “A silly thing I did,” “Something I wish had not happened,” or “What I would like to change at home or school.”
Why these cards are valuable for social workers:
Direct work with children – ready-made prompts to build rapport and start meaningful conversations
Voice of the child – ensures children’s experiences, worries, and happy moments are heard in their own words
Safeguarding tool – gentle questions can uncover neglect, bullying, arguments at home, or unsafe situations
Balanced approach – mixes light-hearted topics with more serious prompts so children feel safe and comfortable
Flexible use – ideal for statutory visits, fostering reviews, therapy sessions, or school-based support
Who can use this resource?
Children’s social workers gathering wishes and feelings during home visits
Fostering and adoption workers exploring children’s experiences in placements
Residential staff and youth workers supporting wellbeing and resilience
Teachers, counsellors, and therapists looking for structured conversation starters
These direct work cards can be printed, cut, and laminated for repeated use. Practitioners may let children choose their own cards, pick at random, or guide the session with a balanced mix.
By using this resource, professionals ensure that children’s voices are heard clearly in safeguarding, assessments, care planning, and reviews, while helping young people feel valued and understood. This is an essential direct work tool for social workers to capture the voice of the child, explore wishes and feelings, and strengthen relationships in practice.
