SS have lost my memory stick

[hidinginthenightgarden]

I passed on a stick of photos for the life story book and got a phone call a few days later saying there were no photos, just some documents that look like they are about DH business. I had obviously sent the wrong stick so he said he would post it back.
I got an envelope a day or two later with a note saying please find enclosed your memory stick....no stick!!
I have been in touch and he says he is sure he sent it but there were no holes in the envelope so he can't have put it in!
He says he will check the office but in the meantime if DH needs those files (fingers crossed he has them on his computer) he is going to be pissed!

[OurMiracle1106]

Unfortunately I’ve found that anything you do send to SS always needs to be backed up in case of loss. This is more frustrating when it’s drawings etc that aren’t replaceable.

[hidinginthenightgarden]

I thought I'd sent a stick with pictures on it which I told them they could destroy afterwards as I wouldn't need. I think DH then used the memory stick to put stuff onto. It wasn't meant to end up with them. Knowing DH he will have it backed up on a few things but it still means documents relating to DHs business are out there somewhere which he won't like.

[OurMiracle1106]

I know unfortunately there is very little you can now do about it. Just hope it turns up or has been destroyed securely

I do all my contact letters by email so when they aren’t received etc I can just resend and not lose any info.

Try not to worry about it too much if you can but do let social services know that those documents were confidential

[hackneyLass]

Another variant on this: we were recently expecting an envelope from a client with 2 memory sticks. It came in a Post Office bag with one memory stick from our client and another clearly from a neighbouring local authority with social services files on a family with photos of their house, reports etc, all unencrypted!

I rang the local authority to arrange to get it collected - couldn't get any response. I tried talking to or emailing children's services, the data protection officer, the chief executive. Some took over a week to reply. None thought it was a problem that the files were sent through the post unencrypted and none showed any sense of urgency at collecting it from me.

In the end I contacted the ex-head of digital services through LinkedIn who got one of the IT guys to drop round to our house on his way home from work.

The Information Commissioner's Office said the council should report themselves for the data breach and as this information is published annually I will be checking they did.

I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of anyone adopting through that council....