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Original poster

Social Care records - Can I do a SAR request for my childhood records?

18 replies

endlessleypeckish · 29/10/2023 22:49

Was placed in temp foster care when under 10 with my siblings.

Neither parent sadly no longer alive to ask, but I have all these memories and my sibling & I have no idea what age we were etc, how long we were actually in care etc

Just curious to know really, not for anything more sinister

TIA

OP posts:
namechangesforum · 29/10/2023 22:53

You can but might not get anything - I was in care for a period and was told they don’t hold any records for me at all. I’ve no idea who I was with and how long for.

Original poster
endlessleypeckish · 29/10/2023 22:58

namechangesforum · 29/10/2023 22:53

You can but might not get anything - I was in care for a period and was told they don’t hold any records for me at all. I’ve no idea who I was with and how long for.

Thanks, this would have been mid-80s; is that the similar search period for you?

OP posts:
Tomorrowillbeachicken · 29/10/2023 23:02

You can. I have but I decided not to read mine in the end as my childhood was a cluster for many reasons and in the end I decided it might open too many repressed memories

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 29/10/2023 23:03

I was never put in care but had Sw involvement from 8 to 13

EsmeT · 29/10/2023 23:03

I did this, and sadly they gave me school records.

MidnightOnceMore · 29/10/2023 23:05

Yes you can ask. You may not get as much as you expect as records may no longer exist or they may withhold things for reasons e.g. protecting the identity of others.

But the dates etc. should be known.

flufferknutter · 29/10/2023 23:06

They will lie, delay and obfuscate to try to put you off accessing them, but they will have them and you have a right to access them.

I finally managed to access mine and I was in care in the 70s. At first they told me they'd been destroyed in a fire, then they kept trying to put me off, but the police needed them, so I contacted my MP and, two days later, there they were.

Be aware that a lot of information will be blacked out if it mentions third parties. I was lucky because the social work manager made sure I received mine fully intact otherwise they'd have been rendered meaningless if third part references had been removed.

Vinrouge4 · 29/10/2023 23:21

That’s terrible that you were lied to. flufferknutter

flufferknutter · 29/10/2023 23:27

Vinrouge4 · 29/10/2023 23:21

That’s terrible that you were lied to. flufferknutter

Edited

I know. I didn't believe him which is why I kept pushing. You have to be persistent and contact your MP if necessary.

minsmum · 29/10/2023 23:41

The LA that I work for have a retention policy for children's social care records of 75 years. So putin a SAR request they have a month to get you the information but they can extend it to three months if necessary. It's a statutory requirement

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 30/10/2023 00:40

Your doctors may have some records in their paper records too

Waynettaaa · 30/10/2023 02:55

How do you go about it/who do you contact?

I was also in care in very early 70's and neither parents alive now. I only have very few memories of it and they aren't great. I'd like to know what/why things happened, if I could.

I think it would have been in London. Or possibly Hampshire, I have no idea on dates or how old I was.

Original poster
endlessleypeckish · 30/10/2023 09:13

Thank you, good to know a others have had some success. I think I will submit one and see how I get on. I'll update with how I get on!

OP posts:
Original poster
endlessleypeckish · 30/10/2023 09:15

Waynettaaa · 30/10/2023 02:55

How do you go about it/who do you contact?

I was also in care in very early 70's and neither parents alive now. I only have very few memories of it and they aren't great. I'd like to know what/why things happened, if I could.

I think it would have been in London. Or possibly Hampshire, I have no idea on dates or how old I was.

I am making a request via ECC, so maybe your council has a similar section on website to the below? Good Luck

www.essex.gov.uk/running-council/request-information-about-you-or-someone-you-care

OP posts:
Waynettaaa · 30/10/2023 09:40

endlessleypeckish · 30/10/2023 09:15

I am making a request via ECC, so maybe your council has a similar section on website to the below? Good Luck

www.essex.gov.uk/running-council/request-information-about-you-or-someone-you-care

Show quote history

Thank you, you too.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't have a clue which council it would be, as I was a baby/toddler.

AntonFeckoff · 30/10/2023 20:07

I've thought about it but ultimately decided it would be too painful. My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay is a very good read on this subject.

IhateMondaymornings · 30/10/2023 20:15

You can. Some local authorities have a member of staff whose job it is to go through your records with you as often the content can be so distressing. The further back you go, the more sparse the records are. Third party information is usually redacted. Where I used to work the staff member who shared the records with you redacted the information so it was easier for sense to be made of it all. Sadly, some authorities just send you your records in the post and this can make the whole process very hard indeed as there will be decisions and information about your circumstances you are unaware of. It's not as straightforward as you imagine and I think counselling should always accompany the release of records. As a social worker who had to read case files and found them, at times, extremely hard reading, it is not something you should undertake lightly.

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