Our study focuses on the information needed for overviews by social workers in child protection, and how information is presented in client information systems (CIS). Data consists of semi-structured interviews and social workers’ observations while they used CIS in their daily work. The analysis was structured by the concept of temporal trajectory. We identified three major interconnected information strands: concern, child’s private life and institutional actions. Their temporal lengths and aspects are disparate. CIS offers modest temporal overviews of clients’ cases. Representing information strands as timelines on the interface would provide better overviews.