Theft of data saw strict rules broken

[Alison J Stevens]

Theft of data saw strict rules broken

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The county council broke strict data protection laws which led to sensitive social service documents being stolen, an independent watchdog has ruled.

A burglar broke into a social worker's home in May last year and stole a briefcase which contained confidential court documents.

These contained the sensitive personal data of 18 youngsters, outlining details of neglect and requesting the removal of the children from their parents' care.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which oversees how sensitive data is handled in the UK, yesterday published a ruling which was critical of the council.

The council has said it will now reduce the amount of sensitive paperwork sent home with staff.

Stephen Eckersley, the ICO's head of enforcement said: "Local authorities must recognise social workers are handling some of the most sensitive information available.

"The fact this information often relates to vulnerable young children means it is all the more important for these organisations to provide staff with adequate training and guidance on how to keep this information secure."

The council has now promised to reduce how often staff can take home sensitive documents, and says that when they do they must be kept locked away somewhere in the home.

A County Hall spokesman said: "The county council takes data security extremely seriously. As soon as it became aware a briefcase had been stolen from a social worker's house, the Information Commissioner was informed.

"We already have comprehensive information security arrangements in place and constantly explore how we can improve these.

"This case has led us to reorganise our priorities.

"We have made it clear staff should not take confidential documents home unless it is absolutely necessary for their work and they have their manager's permission.

"If they do take documents home, they must lock them in a secure place."

The Information Commissioner can, in the most serious cases, impose financial penalties of up to £500,000 for serious breaches of data protection laws.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Theft-data-saw-strict-rules-b...

MY THOUGHTS

“Parents who request to see their Social Services files under section 7 of the data protection act 1998 sometimes have a very hard time to get full disclosure with regards to all these records.
Local Authority's often breach the 40 working day mandatory timescale to comply for data protection requests,but a Social Worker has now, through shoddy practice allowed sensitive data to go missing.
I hope the offending so called professional has been disciplined as per protocol?
There is no mention as to whether the paperwork has been found, such information could contain name and addresses of service users and their children, and also contain information about ongoing family court hearings.POSSIBLY DUMPED IN A BIN SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY.”