Accessing SS's files

[Hotdogandmustard]

Hi,

Does anyone know who we need to write to and what specific wording we need to write in our request to SUCCESSFULLY obtain all records about our children from their time in birth family and foster care ?

I believe you need to do a FOI request to the Placing LA but they try and fob you off. So we want to know exactly what to write in our request. So far we have asked verbally and been fobbed off...

LO has been disclosing far far far more than what we were told they experienced.

Thank you.

It's an SAR you need, FOI is for public stuff.

Beware, they can redact anything involving third parties etc, and you may actually get less information going down this route than going for 'help' with the disclosures, and asking for them to go through the files together to see if you can identify why your LO is struggling.

This stuff should be easy, it's so frustrating.

LO has been disclosing far far far more than what we were told they experienced.

Thats not at all unusual, the reality is that social work will know what the birth parents want them to know, and what they can’t hide. There’s a huge range of experience that falls between those two stools for children living in the home day in day out. Social workers may suspect x, y and z are an issue but haven’t been able to get a clear disclosure from birth parents or the child, or haven’t been able to witness the behaviours in question which is really the only way they have of knowing what’s been going on.

You may find the files don’t contain much more than you already know, because social workers weren’t aware or because it relates to the birth family rather than the child. It’s worth getting the files for your own peace of mind but I’d echo working with your child’s disclosures as the best way of knowing what their lived experience was.

Would the new disclosures have changed your decision at matching or placement?

Ask GP to see medical files I discovered a lot there

Thank you for the responses. It was all much appreciated.

As the Placing LA recognise the long term Support and therapuetic needs for us all as as family we are being assigned a PAS SW. They will work with us to through the files and get various questions answered. And give us Support and help access Interventions.

The disclosures are things that we definitely do not expect SW's or anyone else had any knowledge about.

Asking for the medical records was a waste of time. They refused to send us anything they held before the date we became the legal parents... that's an ongoing battle for info.

Do most adoptive parents ask for SS and medical records, or only if you suspect something is amiss? It’s never crossed my mind to do so and now I’m wondering if I’ve been naive.

it feels very wrong that they’ve denied you access to your child’s full medical history though.

I missed this at the time, so you might already have made your request.

You can make a SAR, but that won't get you what you need. UK GDPR doesn't allow for the provision of personal data in relation to adoption.

There are provisions in the adoption and children act 2002 for adoptive parents to obtain data.

Lincolnshire council explains it well https://lincolnshirechildcare.proceduresonline.com/paccesss_adop.htm

Hope that helps.

Thanks @TragicMuse

What exact wording do you use to request the data ?

We have been told so many different things by various organisations... that we needed to request via FOIA, SAR. We'd never heard of quoting the adoption and children act 2002.

Post Adoption Support say they will go through the files with us informally but what will they show us and decide to keep back ?! As there's so much little one is telling us that we weren't told about.... it's a question of whether SS's genuinely didn't know or they did and didnt tell us.

Hi @Whatthechicken

Sorry - I missed replying to you at the time.

It seems that SW's dont tend to give much actual detail in the CPR and other Matching information. And miss lots of things out - because they are trying to 'sell' the child and/or because things were suspected but not proven.

E.g the CPR could have one reference of - there was neglect with the child was seen as dirty. And that's it. But the Case files would have far far more details with numerous reports and details.

There is a specific form of words to use, I'll find them for you.

I can't remember off the top of my head..

Thank you @TragicMuse

That would be so useful for myself and anyone else who feels the need to request their child's case files.

Sorry it's taken so long.

So, what you need to do is make a request under regulation 15 of the Adoption Agencies Regulations.

This doc explains how it works: https://yorkchildcare.proceduresonline.com/pdfs/accinfoointermedser.pdf

Para 33 onwards is the bit you probably need.

You make the request on your child's behalf and on the basis that they are entitled to know their history, any relevant medical history, early history etc. So that you can parent them appropriately and communicate their history in an age-appropriate way.

This doc might also help: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/270100/adoptionnstatutoryguidancee2013.pdf

If you have therapy or counselling then the data can also be disclosed to the counsellor for that purpose too.

Hope that helps...