New guidance to help staff who regularly handle requests for social services records from former service users under the Data Protection Act was published yesterday.
The Information Commissioner's Office recommends that, because information in social care records often comes from a range of sources, social care professionals should consider consulting other agencies, including teachers and doctors, when dealing with requests.
The guidance also says it is advisable to offer individuals to view files containing potentially traumatic information in the presence of a social worker or counsellor.
More information
Guidance: Subject access requests and social services records
Information commissioner's office
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