is it possible to use the data protection act with the SS

bladeguard

Is it possible to do a data protection request to get information ss hold about you and your children please? In the same way you can other companies or are they excempt. If you can who do you approach?

donna8721

"Bumping" this one just in case anyone knows the answer........my friends are currently going through hell with SS and I'd really like to know if we can apply for the relevant details too!

foxwales

SS?

Secret Service? Or Social Security?

If you mean Secret Service then probably not if national security is at stake, however if it's Social Security then as a public organisation they are bound by the freedom of information act and the data protection act.

Call them, ask them for an address to write to and submit a data access request and pay the necessary fee.

Janepig

I don't claim to know the answer, but I know that where I work (Probation) offenders are allowed to see the records we keep on them if they want, but there is an option when you're entering something on the computer to list it as "not to be disclosed" which they can't see if they ask. For instance if their partner has rung their Probation Officer in confidence to say that there's DV going on at home, or if a parent has rung to say that their son/daughter is up to something, etc... whatever, just stuff that could potentially cause trouble for someone if the person it was about found out. But it's not used very often.

So I would imagine (although I don't know for sure) that Social Services would also have something similar.

Jxx

angel_delight

A quick Google shows that yes you are able to access yours and your childrens records (if too young to understand themselves)- ring up your local SS and ask to speak to customer services for further advice as they may wish for you to do a formal detailed request in writing along with photocopied i.d. Sometimes a small fee is asked for too.

The main exemptions are:

If it might cause you/someone else serious harm
Stop the police investigating/detecting a crime
Lead to problems with the courts
If they think it won't be in the childrens best interests.

If you are not allowed to see yours/your childrens records they will inform you in writing and the reason why.

HTH and good luck.

looktothefuture

This sounds more like a Freedom of Information request to me as the SS is a public sector organisation. Here's a link! http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000036_en_1

ps. i'm a civil servant so deal with these all the time!

ooobedoo

If it's "how many staples did the office get through last year" then that is FOI, if you want personal information held tHen that is under DPA.

I cant apply for somebody elses personal information under the foi.

Savvy_Sue

It's a Subject Access Request you want to make, I believe. And I think they have to respond fairly promptly, and can't charge you the earth to see what they have.

smeef

It's a 'subject access request' under section 7(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 that you need to make. If you go to the Information Commissioner's website they have a sample letter and give you info on how long they have to respond to you (something like 40 working days).

As others have said though, there is the facility (as with NHS records and other public sector records) for Social Services to not release all the information.

I would also think carefully about what information you want and why and be specific about that. What are you planning to do with the information when you have it? If you are already having difficulties with Social Services (people usually only want information if they perceive there is a problem), either with the process or with a particular social worker, then it's important to think about what impact making the request might have (e.g. raising issues of trust, individuals feeling criticised/attacked etc). It shouldn't put you off doing it necessarily, but think about how to manage the situation effectively.

bladeguard

I was just curious really as I wondered if you could find out what for example your ex has been doing with your children if it involved SS . You seem to indicate you need to be fairly specific does this mean you just cant ask for everything concerning you and your children?

As for what would you do with it what else would you use it for to goto court i would think would be the only thing that you could use the information for

Thanks

dmg24

looktothefuture wrote: »

This sounds more like a Freedom of Information request to me as the SS is a public sector organisation. Here's a link! http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000036_en_1

ps. i'm a civil servant so deal with these all the time!

This is quite concerning! :rolleyes: