SW sharing case info.

[luckylucky24]

We have a DD placed. Friends of ours are going through process but not yet been approved.
Today our court case was heard for AO but contested by BP.
Our SW, who happens to be friends SW had a meeting with them after our court case and they mentioned our case.
SW then discussed this with them. I am not too fussed about them discussing it in general "Yes it was disappointing" type of thing but she told them things that we didn't even get told!
Surely this is not acceptable? We should not be hearing things about our case through anyone other than SW. This is not the first time and on this occasion as it has been a huge blow to us (2nd court date) I am very upset. Apparently so are SW as they weren't expecting this and DH says I should cut her some slack. Should I? Pretty sure it wouldn't be tolerated amongst most professions.

[Italiangreyhound]

It sounds very unprofessional of your social worker.

To be honest as things are tricky at the moment (in the sense of not running smoothly) I would not complain at this moment.

I may complain later when things are done and dusted.

Sorry you are going through this.

Hope your friend understands the importance of what had been said, and to be fair she is also in the wrong for attempting to ask about your situation.My friend's social worker is a friend of mine, I never asked a thing about her situation.

Plus it means your social worker has withheld information from you.

Date and document everything and decide what you want to do.

Hope things work out well.

[luckylucky24]

Thanks Italian. We have 4 SW on our case at the moment. The common SW is ours and the SW that spoke to me about the case is Lo's SW so maybe she didn't think to pass the info on. Still frustrating that the info was shared with them and not us though.
I think I will bring it up with lo's SW when she next visits. Not in a mean way but just to say "X said that Y told them ABC happened at court, can you shed more light?"

[luckylucky24]

Forgot to say, I won't be making a formal complaint about it. If anything I just needed to vent and there are very few places I can discuss it.

[comehomemax]

I would definitely complain very vocally to the SW. This is a huge breach of yours and LO confidentiality and you are right to be upset.
In your position, I would complain regardless of the legal complexities - court would take a bloody dim view of a LA gossiping about confidential hearings.
Sorry things are stressful and complex in court lucky. We had 6 hearings and it was awful so I can sympathise.

[Italiangreyhound]

Glad to hear you seem calmer. I think until it is finally legalised rocking the boat is not advisable.

The social worker is shit (to be honest) and hugely unprofessional. But I do think your big issue here is getting it all signed and sealed and if a complaint led to a disciplinary then that might add an element of delay or complication.

Good luck.

[donquixotedelamancha]

"I think until it is finally legalised rocking the boat is not advisable."

Depends what you mean by not rocking the boat. The OP can't come to any harm by challenging this obviously unacceptable conduct. Ignoring the issue completely would be a failure in OP's duty of care towards her DD and a failure of self respect. Personally I would:

1. Speak to the SW. Explain what she did wrong and ask for an apology. Ask for reassurance of better care of personal info in the future- this is, after all, the main point.
   

1. Ask your SW to log the issue with the LA and IRO and get some reassurance about their handling of confidential info.
   

I wouldn't make a formal complaint (not because of an imaginary impact on the court case- it isn't related) but because it will be long winded for no gain.

As adopters we often imagine we have to kowtow to SWs and never challenge things, but they are human beings who make mistakes and should be given the chance to fix them. I've done exactly what I advise above and it elicited an apology and a fix, then we quickly moved on.

[Italiangreyhound]

I'm glad it worked out for you don.

[lookatyourwatchnow]

Speaking as a SW - Massive data protection breach and so unprofessional. Notwithstanding discussing Court information with someone who isn't party to proceedings. Shocking practice.

Sorry that proceedings haven't yet concluded, OP. I bet you cannot wait for it to be over

[luckylucky24]

Thanks everyone. When given the news I had a bit of a meltdown which seems to have spurred them to take some action. We are getting a visit next week. Not from the SW who breached confidentiality so may mention that we have had info through a third party via SW and discuss this.
Support is much appreciated.