social sevices files

when_will_it_end

hi all

I didn't know where to post this so thought I would try here

its not for me its for a friend

friend wants to access there daughters social services file from birth to now, he hasn't always been in contact an the dd has been in care its a very long story so I will not go into it, the dd is now 16, he missed a few years of her life when she was young.

friend has been trying to extract the truth from the other parent but its full of holes and lies an the only way they feel they could ever know the truth is from reading these files

from reading on the internet it seems only the dd is the only one able to do this now given her age but she is unable to at present

is there any other way even trying a solicitor or maybe something I have miss read or simply missed that this could be done

thanks

thorsoak

Why does the friend not make contact with Social Services and ask them for himself? Obviously he would have to make written contact, give SS proof his identity as father of daughter, and then ask if it is possible.

They will either tell him yes or no. Personally, I would think that it would not be available - but there again, freedom of information act might act in his favour.

jackyann

It will mostly depend on his legal status, and include whether the child's mother informed social services that he was the father.
However, it is with them that he should begin.
Other useful contacts are: http://www.familyandparenting.org/ and the Children's Legal centre (run by the Coram Foundation)

duchy

Does he have PR ?

Person_one

At 16, I think its entirely correct that this information is only accessible by the daughter. Its about her life, after all, its personal.

hollydays

Who will benefit from the file being looked at by him?
If he's got concerns about the girls well being- discuss with social worker?
Why exactly does he want to do this?

marisco_2

Is your friend back in regular and positive contact with his daughter? If so why doesn't he just talk to her directly and ask her what he wants to know. After all what really matters is her take on her childhood and what went on, not the views and opinions of social workers and any other agencies involved through the years. He is likely to get a much more detailed and accurate picture of things that way.

Tiddlywinks

I'm a little concerned that the father can't just get the information from the daughter...

This is what the Information Commissioner's guidance says:

http://www.ico.org.uk/Global/faqs/personal#f1C0EBAB7-488B-4E71-9EC3-A9217013878B

http://www.ico.org.uk/Global/faqs/~/media/documents/library/Data_Protection/Detailed_specialist_guides/subject-access-code-of-practice.pdf#page=28

Basically, you can only apply on behalf of a child if you have parental responsibility. Even then, the second link shows the considerations to be made before disclosure.

The Act which applies is the Data Protection Act and not the Freedom of Information Act.