Your Adult Services Records
Your Social Care Records
Why Adult Services collects information about the people it supports
- Why does Adult Services collect information about you?
- What may your records include?
- How do we use your records to help you?
- How do we keep your records confidential?
- Do we share your records with other organisations?
- Who are our partner organisations?
- Can you see your records?
- How do you actually get to see your records?
- When can you see your records?
- How long are records kept?
- Can you see all the information that is kept?
- Can other people look at your records?
- Will there be a charge for requesting your records?
- Can you have your records altered?
- What can you do if your request for changes or access is refused?
- Who do you contact if you have further questions?
Why does Adult Services collect information about you?
Tameside Adult Services provides a wide range of services for the public. We keep personal information about the people we help in order to ensure we can plan, provide and review a person's care appropriately.
Keeping a record helps staff and you remember what has been talked about, agreed and decided to do about your care. Your information may be written down (manual records) or held on a computer.
What may your records include?
Basic information about you which will help us to provide you with the most appropriate services such as:
- Your name and contact details
- Personal and family details. This will include information on your gender, marital status, ethnicity and, if appropriate, the nature of any disability. The Department of Health requires that we collect this information
- Your financial circumstances if this is appropriate for the provision of some services
- Notes and reports about your assessment
- Agreements on the services we are providing for you
- A record of the care you have already received
- Medical details which help us provide appropriate care
- Relevant information from other health professionals, relatives or those who care for you and know you well
How do we use your records to help you?
Your records are used to ensure:
- Your Social Worker or any other social care or health professional involved in your care has accurate and up-to-date information. This is used to look at your situation and decide with you what services you need for your future care
- We can accurately monitor and review the service/s you are receiving and ensure you continue to receive appropriate support
- Full relevant information is available should you transfer to another local authority's Adult Services section, or see other health/social care professionals
- We can develop services in the future. We use statistical information to help us identify future needs
- Your concerns can be properly investigated if you choose to complain
How do we keep your records confidential?
All Adult Services staff have a duty to protect service user information and keep it confidential. We may not normally disclose your information to third parties without your consent. Sometimes there may be exceptional circumstances where the law requires information to be passed on.
Do we share your records with other organisations?
You may receive care from other organisations as well as Adult Services. In order that we may all work together for your benefit, we may need to share some information with these organisations. We will only ever pass on information about you if others involved in your care have a genuine need for it.
Who are our partner organisations?
These are the main types of organisations with whom we may share information:
- Health Trusts
- GPs
- Private sector providers of care
- Voluntary sector providers of care
- Relevant Local Authority sectors such as Education or Housing
Can you see your records?
Whenever Adult Services collects information on you, at that time you can ask to see what has been written down. If you want to see your records, you need to make a formal written request to Adult Services.
How do you actually get to see your records?
If you would like to see your records, please ask your Social Worker or visit your local Adult Services office (a list is available at the bottom of this page). Staff at our offices will help you with a formal application. We will ask you:
- to prove your identity
- which records you want to see
- whether you want a copy of your records
- for any other information that will help us locate your records
If you need support to make the request for access, we can help. For example, we can arrange for an interpreter. You can also write to us requesting to see your records.
When can you see your records?
You can usually see your records within 40 days of making the formal written request.
How long are records kept?
This varies according to the type of record. The member of staff dealing with your query will be able to give you more information.
Can you see all the information that is kept?
We try to ensure that people have access to as much information as possible from their records. Occasionally we may have to restrict access. For example, you might not be able to see all or some of the information because it
- relates to other individuals on your file
- might cause you or someone else serious harm
- might help prevent or detect a crime
Can other people look at your records?
As we explained above, only the professionals who need to see them have access to your records.
Other people, including any family members, will only be allowed to see your records if you give your permission.
Will there be a charge for requesting your records?
We can charge up to £10 for you to see your personal records. If we are going to make a charge, the member of staff dealing with your request will tell you the cost.
Can you have your records altered?
If you feel that your records contain something which is inaccurate, you should tell your Social Worker and ask for a correction to be made. If you disagree with anything that is written down, you can request that your views be recorded.
What can you do if your request for changes or access is refused?
If you are not satisfied that your request for changes to your record has been fully dealt with or if you feel that we have refused access to personal information without justification, we need to hear from you. Contact us if you have any complaints, suggestions or compliments about the service you receive.
Complaints Manager, Adult Services, Development and Customer Support Unit, Ryecroft Hall, Manchester Road, Audenshaw, M34 5ZJ
0161 370 1179 
0161 370 1183 
0161 301 2490 
Send a Message to Adult Services Complaints Manager
If you are still not happy, then you can contact:
The Information Commissioner. The Commissioner can offer independent advice or support and inform you about your rights under the Data Protection Act.
The Information Commissioner 
, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF
01625 545 745 01625 545 510 mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk
You can also apply to the Courts. The Court has the power to order a disclosure, correction or erasure of information as well as confirmation of non-disclosure.
Who do you contact if you have further questions?
If you would like to know more about how we use your information and how we ensure it is kept confidential, please do not hesitate to contact:
Information Management & Technology Officer, Adult Services, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL
0161 342 4035 0161 342 3793 Send a Message to Information Management
If you would like to look at your records, please contact your Social Worker or contact your local Office:
Local Offices:
Adult Services, Stalybridge Resource Centre, Waterloo Road, Stalybridge, SK15 2AU
0161 342 2400 0161 342 2460 0161 342 3602 Send a Message to Adult Services
Pennine Care Trust (Community Mental Health Team for Older People (18-65), Reception and Initial Assessment Service, Haughton House, 67 Stamford Street East, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6QQ
0161 339 2627 0161 339 0266
Community Mental Health Team for Older People (Over 65), First Floor, Hyde Hospital, Grange Road South, Hyde, SK14 5NY
0161 604 3400 0161 604 3404