PAIN Data Protection Issues

[Alison J Stevens]

There is a new comment on the post "PLEA FOR INFORMATION ON SONS:MOTHER HITS OUT
AT SOCIAL SERVICES".
http://nojusticeforparents.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/plea-for-information-on-sons
mother-hits-out-at-social-services/

Author: nojusticeforparents
Comment:
PARENTS TELL WOMAN THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEMS

Backing for mum over files access

By Lyn Grainger

The Stafford mother battling to have access to Social Services files on her
children has received nationwide support after telling her story to the Post.
The woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been fighting for 18 months
to see Staffordshire County council reports on her family which she says are
inaccurate and may have affected court proceedings and the access she has to her
sons.
Under data protection law she should have been given the information within 40
days.
Earlier this year Stafford’s MP David Kidney joined her fight and said he was “
spitting mad “ after being assured in April she would be given the files.
And now on the Stafford mother’s online blog, parents across the country have
backed her call for the reports - and have revealed that many of them are in the
same situation.
One local parent wrote ; “I had the same problem with Staffordshire County
Council trying to get information.When it was finally sent six months later some
of the information had been deleted. I know this as I had original copies of
some of the papers.”
And parents from across the country raised concerns about their own local
authorities and social services.
One wrote :” This happened to me. In my case they had 40 days to reply but they
said that because they shared parental responsibility with me ( which means they
are in control )they can decide if I have that information.”
Another commented: “Many years after my daughter was adopted against my wishes I
found that a letter sent to Social Services contained a typing error which
conveyed the opposite intention to that which had been meant regards my parental
abilities. This typing error may have contributed directly to the awful course
of events that prevented my having my baby back. I believe it was used to
discredit me despite the hospital writing again to correct the mistake “
Alison Stevens, of the campaign group Parents Against Injustice, said the
organisation was aware of many cases dragging their heels over information %0