Sunday Mercury Blog

[Alison J Stevens]

Local Authority's are failing in their Legal duties, to provide Parents with their Social Services files under the Data Protection act.
Under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998, Social Services have 40 days to comply.
It is not just Social Services that deny Parents such data.
I was representing a Client within the Family Court Arena in Coventry,and was in the Pre Court meeting with my Clients Children's Panel Solicitors, the Parents had already put in a verbal appeal for their files, but the Social Worker had said no way would such data be released.
I mentioned the same to the Parents Solicitors, who also said that any attempts to receive such data would be denied.
I attempted to mention that the LA, had an obligation, to respond within 40 days, but the subject was soon changed.
The powers to be were not happy for me to be in Court and these Solicitors were pandering to the wishes of the LA.
PAIN has now managed to seek alternative Legal Representation, for this Family and have served a Group drafted Data Protection template letter to Coventry Social Services.
A Client received her Social Services file, within two weeks, under the same process within Leicestershire.
Please see links below

http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/send-us-your-story/
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6188481.ece