Your social services information

We have a duty to protect and support vulnerable people in the community. These include:

adults with physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems
people with hearing or visual disabilities; and
older people

We collect information from people who use our services, their families and other organisations, such as health services. This is to make sure we give you the right care, protection, advice and support. It also helps us to shape future services in Salford.

Why do we ask for information?

Social care workers make notes about the social care needs that you have and the services you receive. These notes help us to provide the most suitable care, protection, advice and support for your needs. Records may be held on the computer or as written notes.

What information do we ask for?

These records may include:

basic details about you, for example, address and next of kin
contact we have had with you
notes and reports about your social care needs and how they may be met
records of decisions about support and services you need
details about the services you receive and
relevant information from people who care for you and know you well. For example, day care or residential care staff and relatives

Sharing your information

We need access to your records to support our work with you. This includes answering your queries and also preparing statistics to help us manage our services better and plan for the future.

If you agree, we will sometimes share appropriate personal information with other organisations (such as the NHS) to allow us to work together for your benefit. All social care and NHS employees and anyone receiving information from us have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential. We will only share information which is relevant and we will only do this where there is a genuine need.

This can stop you having to give out your information more than once.

In some circumstances, we may have to share your information even if you don't agree with this. This can be if the law requires us to (for example to help prevent or detect crime or fraud) or the health and safety of yourself or others is at risk.

If you have a care worker he or she will discuss this with you. If you do not want us to share your information, you must tell us and have this written down- if possible sign this telling us not to share your information.

How do we keep your records confidential?

The law strictly controls the sharing of personal information. In particular, this includes;

Data Protection Act 1998
Human Rights Act 1998; and
Computer Misuse Act 1990

There are also specific social care and NHS Guidelines, which clearly say how we should handle your personal information.

Can you see your records?

The Data Protection Act 1998 allows you to find out what information we hold about you in your records.

If you want to see your records you must write to us or complete our application form (at the bottom of this page). You should send your request to your social work office, or to:

Access to Records Officer
Community, Health and Social Care
Turnpike House
631 Eccles New Road
Salford
M50 1SW

Telephone: 0161 909 6517
Fax: 0161 793 2849
Email: social.services@salford.gov.uk

If you would like a copy of your information, a small charge will be made. Information supplied by a third party (such as health professionals, relatives and neighbours) will only be accessible with the agreement from that third party or subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.