Accessing information we hold about you

Overview

You can ask to see any information that South Tyneside Council holds about you. This includes your Children's Services social care record.

You can ask to see this information if you are:

  • currently looked after by South Tyneside Council
  • a care leaver

You can ask to see your records at any age.

It's always a good idea to first speak to your personal adviser who may be able to help with the information you need.

They will also be able to provide advice and support on making a formal request for your case files.

Cost

It is free for you to access your records.

If you don't have any ID

It's OK if you don't have ID. We should be able to confirm who you are through your Social Worker or PA (Personal Advisor).

Other records

You may have records with other councils - we can only supply information that relates to your time in the care of South Tyneside Council.

To ask for other information about you, like health or Police records, contact that particular service.

Ask to see your records

You can ask to see your records by either:

To ask for your records, send us this information:

  • your name
  • any previous names
  • your date of birth
  • your address
  • your email address
  • whether you are asking for specific records (such as certain dates or types of information) or all your records

After you have requested your records

Your request will go to the Information Governance team at South Tyneside Council.

The team will usually acknowledge your request within 48 hours. This may take longer if we need to do checks to verify your identity.

We may contact you for more information, like previous addresses. This will help us to compile all the information needed.

We will contact you by email, or by post if you haven't given an email address.

When your records will arrive

You will get your information within one calendar month (30 days).

If compiling your records is going to take longer than this, we will inform you before the 30 days is over.

How you will get your records

You can choose how to get your records. This can be either:

  • a paper copy through the post, or
  • a copy emailed to you through a secure email system

Once you have your records

Support from the Council

You will be offered support from your PA (Personal Advisor) or Social Worker to read through your records.

You can get online emotional support, advice and guidance on the Kooth website.

Information that is 'blacked out' or not included

This is called 'redacted information'.

It is usually related to information about other people in your social care records.

It could also be about legal proceedings or anything that Children's Services feels may cause significant harm to you or others if it is included.

If you are unhappy with this, you can challenge the decision and request that the Information Governance team looks at it again.

If you think there is a problem with your records

If facts about your records are wrong (like your name, age, address etc.), you can request this to be changed or deleted.

You cannot change opinions that you might find in your records, even if you believe them to be untrue.

Contact

If you have any queries or need more information, contact the Information Governance team by: