Protecting Your Personal Information - Social Services
Why do we keep personal information?
So we can provide you with the services you require. In making an assessment and planning your care arrangements, we need to gather and record information about you and your needs.
Your Rights
If you share personal information with Health/Social Services staff, you are entitled to know:
- How that information may be used
- Who it may be shared with
You may ask:
- To be given a copy of that information
- For incorrect information to be corrected
Information you provide is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998 & the Caldicott Principle.
For further information on Data Protection either contact:
Borough of Poole Social Services
Civic Centre, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2RU
Tel: Help Desk 01202 633902
Fax: 01202 633634
Email: sshelpdesk@poole.gov.uk
or
The Data Controller: Dr A Dawson
Bournemouth/Poole Primary Care Trust
Canford House
Discovery Court Business Centre
551-553 Wallisdown Road
Poole
BH12 5AG
Tel: 01202 541400
Fax: 01202 541402
Email: feedback@bp-pct-nhs.uk
Our Principles
- Your personal information will always be treated in a confidential manner and with care and discretion
- Staff are made aware of the importance of treating sensitive and personal information with care
- Information is only shared to assist in planning and providing the best possible service
- Information is only shared on a 'need to know' basis
This information explains the general principles that we apply in order to reassure people who use our services. It also explains why, in some circumstances, it is not possible to guarantee absolute confidentiality. It is sometimes important that personal information is shared in order to assist with understanding a problem or working out the best solution. All those involved will treat information with confidentiality. This information can be made available on audiotape, e-mail, computer disk, large print, Braille or in another language on request.
Our Legal Duty
We have a legal duty to pass on information, with or without your consent when:
- There is concern that a child is at risk of harm
- There is concern that you or other people may be at risk of harm
- We have information that a serious crime is planned or has been committed
- We have been instructed to do so by a court
Who are we likely to share information with?
- Appropriate staff involved in meeting your needs
- Agencies such as health, contracted agencies, other local authorities
Why ?
- As part of planning, monitoring and supervising work, to plan the best possible service for you, make sure resources are available or monitor delivery of those services
IF YOU WISH TO SEE INFORMATION HELD ABOUT YOU
Write to either the Borough of Poole Social Services or Bournemouth/Poole Primary Care Trust with your name and address, details of the services you are receiving and any other information that may be helpful for us to find your records. We will usually make the information available to you within 40 days of your written request unless further information or agreement is required.
Do You Have To Pay To See Your Information?
Yes, there is a fee of £10 per request for administrative purposes. You will be given further details when you apply.
What Information Will You See?
Information that Health Services or Social Services hold about you on both our computer and paper records, a description of the purposes for which we process your information, a list of others to whom it is disclosed and how we received it.
Will You See All The Information About You?
Sometimes there is some information that we should not show you:
- If it might lead to serious harm to your physical, mental or emotional health or that of another person
- Certain sorts of legal information or advice
- Information held for preventing or detecting a crime.
- Information received from or about another person will not be shared without their permission
How Will You See The Information?
We may invite you to the office or arrange to see you in your home so that we can explain it to you in person.
What To Do If The Information Is Not Correct
You must inform us and ask for it to be corrected. We must tell you within 21 days what we have done about it. If we do not agree that the information is incorrect, you can ask us to record your disagreement. You can also appeal to the Data Protection Commissioner or the county court if we do not correct the information.
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