Access to records (Adult and children's social services)

• Introduction 
• The Data Protection Act 1998 
• How to get access to your records 
• What to do 
• Dealing with your application 
• How to get further information to comment or complain 
• Other addresses            

Introduction

This guide has been written to help you exercise your right to access information about yourself which may be held in adult and children's social services records.

This information may be held either on computer or personal files.

Adult and children's social services responsibilities are to give care, protection, advice and support to those at risk in the community - children and their families; adults with physical disabilities, learning or mental health disabilities; people of all ages with visual or hearing disabilities; and older people and their families.

The information which we collect about you is to assist us in these statutory duties and in planning to meet your care needs. We may also get information about you from certain third parties or give information to them in order to carry out these tasks. These third parties include health professionals and other local authority departments such as the education department. We will not disclose information about you to anyone outside adult and children's social services unless the law permits us to do so. We will seek your consent for information to be shared with third parties and will inform you about this.

The Data Protection Act 1998 deals with what information can be held about you, how it is kept safe and secure and what access you have to it. 

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The Data Protection Act 1998

The eight Data Protection Principles state that personal data must be:

• Processed fairly and lawfully 
• Obtained for specific and lawful purposes 
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive for the purposes 
• Accurate and kept up to date 
• Kept no longer than is necessary for its purposes 
• Processed in accordance with the rights of the subject under the Act 
• Technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised processing of personal data and against accidental loss, destruction of, or damage to personal data 
• Personal data shall not be transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area without guarantees of adequate protection. 
  

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How to get access to your records

If you want information about your day to day dealings with adult and children's social services, please contact the:

Access Social Care Team 
Tel: 01925 444239
Email: asc@warrington.gov.uk 

or your social worker if you have one.

If you want information, which may be held about you in computer or personal files, you must make a formal request. 

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What to do

• Download a pdf of the application form or if you would prefer an application form to be sent to you by post, please contact the Access Social Care team- Tel: 01925 444239 or Email: asc@warrington.gov.uk
  
• You will be asked to include any information which may help us to trace your records, e.g. when and where services were received 
  
• Send evidence of you identity 
  
• If you require the information on behalf of someone else, you must provide clear evidence of your authority to act for them, such as a letter of instruction or Power of Attorney 
  
• Submit the completed application form to the Access Social Care team 
  

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Dealing with your application

After we have looked at your application we may need some further information to enable us to deal with it.

When we have all the information we need we will be able to deal with your application. You will be provided with a copy of the records you have requested within 40 days from receipt of your application or any additional supporting information we have requested from you.

However, you may not have the right to see some of the information held about you. For example:

• Where disclosure of information would cause serious harm to an individual 
• Where disclosure would be prejudicial to crime prevention and detection 
• Where other legislation prevents disclosure eg. adoption records 
  

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How to get further information to comment or complain

If you need further help with your application, or with understanding any information you receive in response, please contact the member of staff who supplied you with the application form or who contacted you about your application.

If you wish to appeal against a decision refusing you access to your personal records or to amend your records, you may take your appeal either to the Data Protection Commission or to the courts.

If you wish to make a complaint about any other aspects of the service you have received, please contact the:

Complaints manager 
Neighbourhood and community services directorate
Bewsey Old School 
Lockton Lane 
Warrington 
WA5 0BF 
Tel: 01925 444400

Or visit the make your experience count page.

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Other addresses

Access Social Care team
Tel: 01925 444239
Email: asc@warrington.gov.uk

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 

Tel: 08456 30 60 60
Tel: 01625 54 57 45 
Fax: 01625 52 45 10 

Last updated 06/03/2010 10:58:48

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