Do I have to give Sure Start access to health records??

[Dumdeedum3000]

Been going to a local Sure Start centre with my daughter for about a year, then took a break and wanted to go back. They gave me a registration form (apparently everyone needs to get re-registered?) where I have to provide consent for them to "give permission for childrens' centre to access my social care records, health records, schools/setting records, adult treatment service and any other relevant records."

That sounds a bit cheeky to me (not to mention creepy). We were only going to go once a week for an hour to play and don't really see why they need access to so much information ("any other relevant records" - really?). Is this legal? It says on the form I can't use the centre unless I register (didn't seem to be an issue for a year though), so does that mean I can't use the centre if I don't consent to my records being shared?

That is supercreepy! Why on Earth would they need access to that kind of data. I would refuse to provide consent, even if it means not using the centre. It might breach the DPA 1998 principle 3 www.ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/data-protection-principles I bet most people would sign without thinking it through, which is v worrying. you could refuse consent but see if you can attend anyway.

Huh, I've never seen that at any Sure Start centre I've been to. It does sound quite intrusive. I always thought people were being ridiculous when they say Sure Start is just a place where the staff spy on you and report you to Social Services, but when centres start wanting to access such a lot of personal data, I can kind of see why rumours start circulating.

Do you really have to provide consent? What would happen if you fill in the form with your name, address and so forth, but didn't give the consent to access your records?

They do say that they will protect the data in accordance with Data protection laws, etc. but it still sounds suspicious.

I called them and was told that the requirement was produced "in consultation with parents" and that they would require personal records such as health records if I ask for services such as support with various child issues or referrals to things like educational psychology, etc., otherwise they wouldn't automatically access them. Then wouldn't it make sense to require access to such records whenever someone requires one of these services?

I'm sure lots of people sign without realising they are giving a blanket permission to the centre. This is London/Tower Hamlets, btw. I asked if I can still access their services (i.e. just going to a playgroup 1-2 times/week) without signing this (this is the only signature on the registration form, btw) and they told me I have to speak to one of their managers. I wanted to arm myself with some information before I go, hence my post!

The relevant page is attached FYI.

Can't you just cross out the parts you don't give consent to, and still register? Then the onus is on the centre to decide what to do rather than on you.

That's what I thought I would do - although the signature is directly related to the problematic sentence where I give access to our records, so not sure how that would work. Guess I'll talk to the manager and go from there.

Why do they want to know your sexual orientation? What's it got to do with them?

Can you sign it but black out the parts you don't agree to?

Just don't sign it.

Oh, I had a form like this with my last one. I filled in the bits I was prepared to fill in, loudly commenting on it, and put lines through everything I didn't agree with.

Thanks everyone :)

Wow. Will be awaiting outcome of this with interest.

And on a side note, doncha just love each and every form and website that says, "We won't pass your data on. Unless we want to."

Or alternatively, "We won't pass your data on. Much good it will do you, as we ARE the eejits you wanted to protect that data from."

It's a good thing that no local authority has ever lost any sensitive data at anytime ever in the past, or there might be cause for concern.

They leave it on trains and al the rest. We all know the cases. Don't give the consent. Big Brother is more often incompetent than wicked.

Are they taking the piss?

Having helped at a sure start baby group much of what they ask for is for subsequent box checking. The are asked to report on every detail of people using them.

Essentially they need the 'worst' of society to justify funds. 'Normal' families aren't liked as they don't 'need' the services, don't justify them.

Our group ceased in the end as we didn't have enough drug alcohol teen lesbian/gay parents with mental health and debt issues or issue led children (sleep, eating etc). Just covering 17 nationalities with 'normal' issues like pnd wasn't sufficient. Despite a suicide amongst us. That was apparently too serious, go figure.

I have no respect for them now. I heard the children's services dept spout such shit it was sickening.

So, I went by the centre, having only filled out our names & that of my daughter + address + phone number. Left most of the form empty, including the info about sexuality/pregnancy (!). Blackened/crossed out most of the paragraphs in the last section and wrote "do not agree" next to them for good measure. Signed below. The lady behind the counter at the children's centre said there's no problem with my version of the form and was happy to accept it. Hope it's case closed then!

In any case though, I don't think this form is appropriate and Tower Hamlets shouldn't be requesting all this info. Does anyone know who would handle such a complaint?

On the other hand, the Tower Hamlets mayor is famous for having been voted in by dead/non-existent people (amongst other scandals), so I don't think this borough cares very much for accurate personal data one way or the other....unbelievable...

Well done. At least you get to use the centre.

Have a poke around on the Information Commissioner's Office website. I suspect the first person to complain to is the Sure Start's designated Data Controller.

But looking through the Principles of Data Protection, the centre might not be in breach, because they haven't YET accessed your data. They were only asking for permission to do so if it came up - at which point they'd have a lawful purpose. And you'd have given them permission, which IIUC also affects things.

Does anyone know who would handle such a complaint? The council will have a formal complaints procedure. The details of it will be on their web site.

You might get a better result by raising the matter with one of the elected councillors. You could contact one of the councillors for the ward where you live or else the cabinet member for children's services. Info about who the councillors are and how to get in touch with them will also be on the council web site.

Just seen on the news that the Ministry of Justice has admitted that information from three semi secret inquiries has gone missing in the post.

Just a heads up for people who think they can trust any public body with sensitive data.

(The data should have been encrypted. However, previous incidents have revealed that data is rarely encrypted at all, and even if it's claimed it is, a password on an Excel file is trivial to crack.)