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Original poster

SS accidentally shared my address with Birth mother -help!

90 replies

YouAreMyRain · 02/07/2014 17:16

Just had a call from SS PAS wanting to arrange an urgent meeting with me on Monday, involving a manager they wouldn't tell me what it was about. I had to keep pestering them to tell me, apparently there has been a "breech of confidentiality" by an area SW and my address was accidentally given to BM back in April! Fucking April!

BM has drug/alcohol issues and has been jailed for violence and robbery etc and when we met her years ago ALL the SWs in the office were terrified of her and dreaded her coming to the office.

Fuck.

OP posts:
WhizPA · 06/07/2014 22:07

Good luck tomorrow. Have kept thinking about you over the weekend and the awful situation you've been put in. They can't put it right for you but I hope at least they support you in all you need doing to make you feel safe. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 06/07/2014 22:57

Thanks. Haven't slept properly since weds. Went away for the weekend and I felt physically sick as I was driving back to the house (was going to type "home" but "the house" felt more accurate)
I was burgled last yr and that made me nervous for a bit but that was nothing like this. I feel as jumpy as a box of frogs.

OP posts:
HappySunflower · 06/07/2014 23:03

I've been thinking of you too.
Hope the meeting goes well and that you get some proper practical and financial support from SS.

MarthasHarbour · 07/07/2014 10:55

De lurking to wish you luck today Flowers

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 07/07/2014 20:24

Well, as expected SS downplayed it all and "don't think there is a risk" (even though the information they had in front of them - that I asked to photocopy - suggested otherwise)
They actually asked me if I wanted to make a complaint.("if"!) Their complaints procedure can take months and apparently nothing can be done in the meantime. Angry

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 07/07/2014 20:28

That's rubbish ...... Can you quickly take it higher ?

HappySunflower · 07/07/2014 20:28

They can't do that!
What did your solicitor say to them?
At this point, I would now involve your ward councillor and MP, plus the head of children's services.
I really thought that, as they were at fault, that they would make this as easy as possible for you. Angry

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 07/07/2014 20:41

Oh wow! That is beyond incompetent!

As Happy says, I would be contacting (or getting your Solicitor to contact) the Head of Children's Services and your MP ASAP.

As if this happening in the first place wasn't bad enough! It's like being let down all over again.

I am Angry on your behalf!

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 07/07/2014 21:20

It has to go through the procedures

I haven't instructed a solicitor yet. Had too much on and wanted to hear what they had to say first.

I will now be instructing a solicitor first thing tomorrow.

They didn't tell me in April (when it happened) as they were trying to protect me as they knew things were difficult for me with DD1 (speechless at this! Since April things with DD1 have actually got harder and my life has got more complicated)

If they had told me back then, I would have had time to move and settle DDs in before September.

Fucking twats.

Patronising wankers.

AngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngryAngry

OP posts:
Lilka · 07/07/2014 21:24

Angry Angry

I'm so angry on your behalf. I'm not surprised they're trying to cover their backs and downplay everything, I suspected they might. Just being willing to own up and take responsibility without being pushed is unusual for SS!

Really hope you find a good solicitor xx

Maiyakat · 07/07/2014 21:32

And they wonder why Social Services gets a bad press.... Angry

This is a link to the case where the council were fined £70,000 for the same thing. Your council may not be taking this seriously, but the Information Commissioner's Office do.

www.localgov.co.uk/Halton-BC-fined-for-serious-data-breach/28004

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 07/07/2014 22:06

I think (from my steep learning curve over the last five days) that they can expect a fine of at least £70,000 for the breach of data protection. Not that that is much comfort to me sadly.

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 08/07/2014 07:16

I'm so cross on your behalf. Keep escalating, through both officials (managers) and elected representatives ( MP, councillor). Get a good legal letter in there, setting out your clear demands.

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 08/07/2014 19:58

Just in case anyone on this board is under the impression that SS/LAs are in any way competent, let me just recount a small part of my day.

So, yesterday a PAS SW and their manager came to visit me and told me the only way to get anything to be done about this situation would be to instigate a formal complaint. I rang up and left a voicemail message to start the process.

They returned my call this morning (now this looks efficient so far, but don't be fooled) and put me through to the head of customer relations.

When I explained the situation, she was astounded that I felt the need to make a complaint as "they have already admitted their mistake so there is no point having an investigation" I said that I wanted to pursue a complaint so that lessons are learnt and so that action can be taken (assistance to move house). She repeated that a complaint would be pointless and that she could get someone to write me a letter(!). I pointed out that a letter would not help me move house, as I am in a privately owned property (unless it's some kind of magic letter).

I repeated that I wanted to proceed with a complaint. She responded with (quote) "Fine!" But again told me that there was no point. Confused

I have meeting with a solicitor on Thursday.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 08/07/2014 20:05

I'm appalled. Keep coming back here for the support to fight this - it's beyond disgraceful

RhinosAreFatUnicorns · 08/07/2014 21:25

I cannot believe how incompetent they are - well actually I can, having had a security issue myself, although nowhere near as bad as this. Sounds as though they want to brush it under the carpet, and you'll forget about it!

HappySunflower · 08/07/2014 21:30

Bloody hell.
Please involve your MP as well.
I am horrified that people like this are responsible for the safety and well being of some of our most vulnerable children.

Mrsrochesterscat · 08/07/2014 21:34

Also contact the Local Government Ombudsman.

zipzap · 08/07/2014 21:42

So not surprised that they are doing their best to downplay it all - they have a lot to lose on so many different levels. Hope that it gives you added determination to pull your MP and all the other relevant agencies mentioned here into helping you persue a heavy duty claim against them.

MarthasHarbour · 08/07/2014 22:08

This is one almighty fuck-up cover up on so many levels.

I know you will but yes - involve everyone, particularly your MP and the police. If confidentiality wasnt the core issue i would also be going to the press. But this is no time for DM sad faces.

Flowers for you x

Mercythompson · 09/07/2014 08:37

I heard a journalist talk about the legal value of 'contemporaneous notes' recently.

He said that if you write notes in situation as it happens or just after about what was said they can have legal standing. So if you write down what the woman on the phone said about there being no point in complaining etc, if you write it down now and can produce that document at a later date, it has legal weight to add to your version of events if they deny what she said.

Might be useful.

Original poster
YouAreMyRain · 09/07/2014 08:39

Thanks, I started writing it all down last night, it's good to know it might be legally useful.

OP posts:
PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 09/07/2014 09:45

Make sure you get all names in full when you write these thins down. Sign and date both sides of the piece of paper and use a seperate piece of paper for each conversation, as each once can become a different exhibit.
Im so sorry for this op you must be going through hell!

WhizPA · 09/07/2014 20:19

I'd heard someone talking about contemporaneous notes this week too. if you can, email them to yourself and then you can produce the email which will have the time and date stamped on.

Keep up the pressure on them, there is no way they can be allowed to brush it under the carpet.

flightywoman · 09/07/2014 20:52

I deal with complaints and with data protection at a public authority and I am absolutely astounded - at what they've done and how they have acted subsequently.

I'm also an adopter and am separately horrified.

This link to the ICO's pages will give you all the info you need to escalate this. And since they have been reluctant to even accept your complaint as a formal complaint I think you have adequate grounds to go to the ICO pretty sharpish.

ico.org.uk/for_the_public/raising_concerns

Good luck x

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