CHARMS

What CHARMS is

CHARMS is a case management platform for children’s and adults’ social care, covering services such as fostering, adoption, residential care, supported accommodation, Shared Lives, young carers, education and welfare, and supported employment. It keeps chronological case records with sections for assessment, training, approval, and ongoing support. A child or adult can have one record spanning multiple service types, connecting stages of their care journey in one place. Teams can use custom intake forms and track service plans, referrals, and outcomes. For education and welfare work, its Online Mail Grabber can save emails from services such as Outlook or Gmail to a case file with one click. SMS messaging to carers and staff is also available, with message details recorded in the case file; secure logins are described for parents, carers, and students, with unlimited parent access at no charge. CHARMS is delivered over the internet and works on devices with a browser and internet connection, including mobile browser access. The maker says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and describes independent penetration testing, release security testing, Cyber Essentials Plus certification, and UK GDPR design. It also supports data subject access, retention, and audit trail requirements. Pricing is on request; the listed All Social Care Agencies plan is $150 a month per licence.

Who it suits

CHARMS suits social care agencies that need case records across multiple service types and stages of care. Its education and welfare tools may also suit teams that handle client email, message carers and staff, or provide parent, carer, and student logins.

Limits

The listed All Social Care Agencies plan costs $150 a month per licence. Each licence provides access to all functionality and can be used concurrently by anyone in the agency.

Getting started

1. Visit the CHARMS website.
2. Contact the maker to request pricing.
3. Choose the All Social Care Agencies plan at $150 a month per licence, if it fits.
4. Use CHARMS through a browser on a device with an internet connection.
5. Arrange onboarding and training, which the US pricing page lists as unlimited and online.

Verdict

Choose CHARMS if your agency needs connected case records across children’s or adults’ social care services, with tracking for referrals, plans, and outcomes. Its browser delivery and education and welfare communication tools add to that scope. Ask the maker about pricing for your requirements; the listed agency plan is $150 a month per licence.