Under the "General Data Protection Regulations" (GDPR) it state's all "Data Subject Access Requests" are free of charge. Most people will submit the Local Authorities standard DSAR that you find in the Local Authorities website, but these are just standard requests which do not give you accurate, full or complete copies of everything in the files the Local Authorities hold on you and your family. A good friend of mine a Local Councillor taught me years ago, on how to make a request by using certain word's and phrases which will help you to get a full copy, this is why I created and update this template as the legislation changes so family can always get the most out of their SAR requests. All you have to do is save this template as a word or acrobat document and edit it to your own family's situation then once it is finished and complete, you must send the SAR as an Email directly to your own County's "Director Of Children's Service's" (not the ICO which Local Authorities will try to tell you!). The Director Of Children's Service's should send you  confirmation via Email within 48 hours of your request, if you do not receive this then telephone the Director Of Children's Service's and ask the PA if your request has been received ask them to send you Email confirmation so you have a black and white copy as proof "for your legal teams viewing" it's very important that you add this last paragraph because it will strengthen your request ten fold. They might ask you to send a form of photo I.D via post or Email (each County is different). Once they have received your I.D you then have to wait it can take up to 30 days. You will receive a full complete copy of everything the Local Authoritie's hold on you and your family, not only official documents but also the Social Worker's personal notes, comments, opinions, views. concerns and hidden allegations, all the reports, statements, minutes and records, all telephones conversations, transcripts and sms logs, audio recordings and CCTV footages, all Email's even private Email's between Social Worker's and other third-partys. Even if your child is under the care of the LA in foster placement if you hold or share Parental Responsibility with the LA then you are still entitled to a copy of everything (all information) that they hold personally on you, if they try refusing to send you a copy of your child's files appeal their decision, send an Email of complaint on the grounds that you still hold shared PR with the LA this usually works! Plus they cannot refuse your request if your child is over 14 years old and your child consents to you having a full copy of your files. If the child is still in under your care then also they cannot refuse your SAR request, This does not mean that only you can submit a SAR but you can also appoint a third-party, representing body, family advocate, lawyer, Makenzie friend or layperson who has your full permission to act on your behalf. 

Full Name
Address
Town
County
Postcode
Telephone numbers
Email address
Date

Director of children's services Name
Address
Town
County
Post code
Telephone number
Email

Dear Sir or Madam

Data Subject Access Request

case reference number.

The allocated social workers name is        .

There Social Care registration number is

Your name, date of birth, address,

1st child’s name, date of birth, address if known,
2nd child's name, date of birth, address if known,
3rd child's name, date of birth, address if known,
4th child's name, date of birth, address if known,

Please supply the following information. I am entitled to and I expect to receive a complete and full copy of everything held with in the files by the Local Authorities children's social care team regarding myself, my family and my children named above under the General Data Protection Regulation guidelines and the Data Protection Act 1998.

Please be aware that it is not acceptable to amend or delete any data held on my family or my children. Under the General Data Protection regulation guidelines and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018), it is an offence to make any amendments to or to delete any information with the intention of preventing its disclosure. Failure to comply with my request will leave me with no other alternative than to report such failings to the Information Commissioners office.

This should include the following;

• Copies of all the courses all the course work undertaken and of all certificates gained that myself and my family have been enrolled in to by children's services including all records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms in an kind of capacity including domestic violence awareness and recognition of signs,  Parenting courses, counselling, substance misuse and any therapy courses we have been asked to attend all the computerised and written files that are held on myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all recoverable deleted data, all archives and all back-up data files stored within all computer systems and in all formats and to include all paper files and data stored that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all existence of automated decision-making (including profiling) that are held in regards to myself,my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all Minutes taken, also known as protocols that are held in regards to myself,my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all chronologies that are held regarding myself,my family and my children named above.

• Full copies of all internal/external, incoming/outgoing audio and transcibed telephone records including not only telephone call conversations but also including full sms transcripts that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• All copies of internal and external third party, sent and received postal letters and correspondence any hand typed paper form, electronically sent and received e.mail correspondence and faxes forms, including all records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, logged transcripts, memo's and personal notes on all the data stored in all computerised or paper files forms that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all records, internal, external and third party, informal handwritten and computerised records, all stored data of any kind, all recorded minutes taken also known as protocols, formal professional and informal personal notes, transcripts and recommendations including all instant written memos and notes recorded or held in my files of meetings and hearings, all reports, any recorded formal or informal personal views, comments and opinions recorded, statements, CCTV video footage, and all written transcripts and audio recordings including notes used to describe events of any meetings that have taken place with or without my knowledge or presence this is to include a full list of attendees, all informal and formal statements made or logged of all issued considered by all participants and any related responses or decisions for any of these issue's, concerns and allegations that have been raised regarding myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all referrals including the original referral received and the concerns raised in the beginning to the children's service's emergency duty team, the initial meeting reports and minutes, from all sources including all social workers, team manager's and head of the social care department all records, reports, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, all case notes, recommendations, audio recordings, memo's and personal notes sent and received, including all referrals made and requested on all data stored whether computerised or paper files forms that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children. held on myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all hidden allegations and concerns from all parties that have not been disclosed to myself held within my files on myself, my family and my children named above.

• A full copy of the original report of the section 47 investigation that was carried out and any attached personal notes, concerns and allegations that have been recorded about myself, my family and my children named above.

• Full copies of reports from all Assessments including pre-birth, viability, connected persons, child and family assessment, that have been carried out on myself and my family whether the assessments have been completed or only part-completed, including personal and professional notes, recommendations, comments, concerns, views and opinions that are held in regards to myself, my family, all connected people and my children named above.

• Copies of all child protection plan case conference records and reports, all recorded minutes, all professional and personal notes including any comments, concerns and hidden allegations that have been made against myself or my family all recommendations that have been logged including the independent chair/reviewing officers opinions and records that is held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all internal child protection meetings that have been held with or without my knowledge or presence including all records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, minutes taken known as protocols all audio recordings, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms held in  regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all core group meetings all records, statements, reports, meeting minutes taken, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms held in  regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all reports from contact review meetings better known as L.A.C review meetings including all recorded undisclosed and disclosed statements and decisions made including all minutes taken, statements, concerns, personal and professional comments made, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, CCTV footage, memo's and personal notes that have been logged and all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms that are held in  regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all the contact centres and contact sessions records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all internally and externally of all T.A.F/M.A.S.H/C.A.F meetings that have been held with or without my knowledge or held in my absence from all parties that where present and attended such meetings including all records, recorded minutes taken, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms held in  regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all care orders that are held on myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all care plans that have been drawn up temporarily or long term plans that are held on myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all court orders that are held on myself, my family and my children named above.

• A Copy of the original section 20 agreement and of all signed documents, agreements and contracts that I have allegedly signed that are stored with in my families files.

• Copies of all day-to-day running sheets that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all the school, nursery and sure start records, all statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms held in  regards to myself, my family and my children.statements and reports including nurse's reports, notes, records and statements that are held regarding my family and children named above.

• Copies of all third party medical files and records to include the general practitioners, midwifes, health visitors, Psychologists, child therapists, child psychologists, swift workers and parenting assessors, any personnel/representing third party and outside agencies assigned by children's services who have been hired/asked to come in and to work with my families case all records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, professional diagnosis and personal opinions all audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all foster carers reports including all records, statements, concerns and comments all audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes logged that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all the children's homes and secured unit's reports including all records, statements, concerns and comments all audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes logged that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all mother and baby units and mother and baby foster placements reports including all records, statements, concerns and comments all audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes logged that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all the children's Guardian's, family and children's advocates and of the C.A.F.C.A.S.S officers reports including all records, statements, concerns and comments all audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes logged that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

• Copies of all police background records, including previous arrests interviews, cautions, convictions, pending investigations and upcoming court hearings, all records, statements, reports, concerns, allegations, recommendations, audio recordings, CCTV video footage, memo's and personal notes on all data stored in all computerised or paper files forms that are held in regards to myself, my family and my children named above.

I trust that this data subject access request is very clear. If you need any more information from me,  please feel free to contact me as soon as possible via my email address.

It may be helpful for you to know that a Data Subject Access Request for information under the General Data Protection Regulations guidelines states I should be responded to within 30 days from receiving my photo I.D for verification and proof of my identity . If you do not normally deal with these requests, please pass this request on to your Data Protection Officer. If you need advice on dealing with this request, the Information Commissioner’s Office can assist you and can be contacted on

0303 123 1113 or at ico.org.uk

Yours faithfully

your full name title here

 This follow on Request should be emailed to your director of children's services. It is a request for a response from your director if he has not acknowledged your Data Subject Access Request after 14 days.

Name of director

address

tel number

e.mail address

Dear _________

Non response to a Data Subject Access Request.

I am writing further to my email sent on __/__/____ in which I Submitted a Data Subject Access Request. I have not received any response from you or your personal assistant as of yet.

As the statutory time limit of 30 days has now expired for you to respond to my Data Subject Access Request I would be grateful if you could provide a response now as soon as possible.

If I do not receive a response from you or your office staff within 14 days, I will report this matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You can find advice on the ICO’s website on how to deal with a subject access request at www.ico.org.uk/sar

Information on their powers and the action they can take are also available at www.ico.org.uk/action or you may call them on 0303 123 1113.

If there is anything you would like to discuss, please contact me on the following

[telephone number].

Yours faithfully

[Signature]

This request is for you to use if you know there are certain pieces of key information or notes any reports or statements missing from your files once you have received your full copy of your Data Subject Access Request. You email this letter to your director of children's services requesting that they go over your files and they send you all the missing files you have not been sent and that has been left out of your Data Subject Access Request.

Name of the director

address

tel number

e.mail address

Reference number (if provided within the initial response)

Dear ________________

Data Subject Access Request.

Further to my e.mail sent on __/__/____ in which I Submitted a Data Subject Access Request, I would now like you to revisit the way you handled my request.

I requested the following information: [List information]

I received a response from you on __/__/____ from [name of the person who responded].

I have attached a copy of both letters for your information. From the information you have provided and from my reading of the Information Commissioner’s Office website at www.ico.org.uk

I suspect you have failed to disclose all the relevant information I requested.

I believe that I have not received a full complete copy all the data that the local authorities hold on my family that I am entitled to.

I expected to receive a full complete copy of everything including all the personal data relating to myself and my family that is stored and logged  within my families files by your Local Authorities.

List the records that you requested that the local authorities ommitted and did not send you and all data you want them to search for and where they might be found, including any relevant dates, for example:

• Personal notes internally and externally from ________.

• Emails sent and received by                  .

• Medical records for _________  held by Dr ‘C’  at ________ hospital.

• CCTV camera video footage recorded at (‘E’ location) on         between the times of        .

• Copies of statements recorded and minutes logged also known as protocols by _________ at ________ meetings and conferences.

ect....

If you have withheld any information relating to me I would be grateful if you would confirm this and tell me why you consider it appropriate to do so.

If there is anything further you can do to resolve this matter, or further information you can provide, please do so.

As the statutory time limit for responding to my subject access request is 30 days and this has now expired, I would be grateful if you could provide this information within 14 days.

I must advise you that if I do not receive a satisfactory response from you, I will report this matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You can find advice on the ICO’s website on how to deal with a subject access request on www.ico.org.uk/sar and information on their powers and the action they can take are on www.ico.org.uk/action or call them on 0303 123 1113.

If there is anything you would like to discuss, please contact me on the following

[telephone number].

Yours sincerely

[Signature]

 Under the GDPR guidelines they introduced a right for the public to have personal data erased.

The right to delete or erasure certain parts of information on yourself is also known as ‘the right to be forgotten’.

To do this you can make a formal request for things held on you to be deleted or erasure either by verbally or in writing request form.

They have one month to respond to your request.

This right is not the only way under the GDPR guidelines it places an obligation on professionals to consider whether or not to delete personal data.

Under Article 17 of the GDPR individuals have the right to have personal data erased. This is also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’. The right is not absolute and only applies in certain circumstances.

When does the right to erasure apply?

Individuals have the right to have their personal data erased if....

The personal data is no longer necessary for the purpose which you originally collected or processed it for.

If they are relying on your consent which they are bound by lawful basis for the data they hold on you, and your was to lawfully withdraws your consent.

If they are relying on legitimate interests as their basis for processing, if you object to the processing of your data, and there is no overriding legitimate interest to continue this processing then you have the right for the information to be removed and deleted.

If they are processing your personal data for direct marketing purposes and you objects to that being processed and shared.

If they have processed your personal data unlawfully (ie in breach of the lawfulness requirement of the 1st principle).

If you have to do it to comply with a legal obligation.

Or they have processed the personal data to offer information society services to a child.

They must act upon your request without undue delay and no later than one month (30 days) of receipt of your request.

What is the right to rectification?

The GDPR includes a right for individuals to have inaccurate personal data rectified, or completed if it is incomplete.An individual can make a request for rectification verbally or in writing.You have one calendar month (30 days) to respond to the request.

Preparing for requests for rectification.

Under Article 16 of the new GDPR legislation all individuals have the right to have inaccurate personal data rectified.

An individual may also be able to have incomplete personal data completed – although it does depend on the reasons that you want the information corrected.

This may involve providing a supplementary statement to the incomplete data.

When is data inaccurate?

The GDPR guidelines state does not give definition of the term accuracy. But under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) it does, clearly state that any inaccurate personal data or incorrect, misleading information and data must be corrected and amended as any matter of fact.

What they have to do when they are considering the accuracy?

Under Article 18 you have the right to request that they restrict your personal information and data while they are dealing with your request and checking the information to be correctly amnended with the accurate information and data and it is good practice, they should restrict the processing of your personal information and data whilst they are verifying its accuracy, whether you has exercised this right and request them to restrict it or not.

Do they have to tell other organisations if they have rectified your personal data?

If they have disclosed your personal data to others professionals then the answer is YES!!!! they must contact each professional and inform them of the  rectified information on completion of changing the  data - if this proves impossible or involves informing to many people and it is an impossible task or or they font want to put in the effort. MAKE SURE YOU ASK THEM to provide you with a full list of people they have and have not informed with the updated amended information and data changed and they must provide you with a copy of all ammended paperwork as  written proof so you may be able to contact them yourself to update professionals who have not been contacted yet.

The GDPR guidelines defines a recipient as a public body which is us or a representing body, legal public authority, agency, professional or official body which is them to which the personal data has been disclosed to. The definition includes controllers, processors and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.

This right has close links to the accuracy principle of the GDPR (Article 5(1)(d)). However, they may have already taken steps to ensure that your personal data was accurate when they obtained it, this right imposes them with a specific obligation to reconsider the accuracy upon request.

There Obligations are .....

They must know how to recognise a request for rectification and they understand when this right applies.

They must have a policy for how to record requests we receive verbally.

They must understand when we can refuse a request and are aware of the information we need to provide to individuals when we do so.

They must complying with requests for rectification

They must have processes in place to ensure that we respond to a request for rectification without undue delay and within one month of receipt.

They must be aware of the circumstances when we can extend the time limit to respond to a request.

They must have an appropriate systems to rectify or complete information, or provide a supplementary statement.

They must have a procedures in place to inform any recipients if we rectify any data we have shared with them. 

You can fill in an ACRO request online which will cost you £10 It takes 40 days to get your files just the same as a subject access request so get in your request as early as you can.

follow the link below to take you to the online acro request form.

https://www.acro.police.uk/SAStep1.aspx

Your rights

You have a right to be told whether any information is held about you and a right to a copy of that information, unless certain exemptions apply. This must be provided to you within 40 calendar days. However, this period cannot start until we have all the information necessary to process the application and satisfactory proof of identity has been provided.

Chief Constable’s Rights

The Chief Constable of GMP is obliged to confirm to you whether or not personal data is held by the force and provide copies of that personal data to you unless exemptions apply. In certain circumstances the Chief Constable would not be obliged to provide personal data, for example, you will not be provided with personal data if releasing it to you would be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation or would identify another individual. The information you provide on the GMP subject access form will be used for processing your request and may be used for other policing purposes.

Proof of Identity

Before information can be searched for and sent to you, your identity must be established. This is to ensure that not only do you receive the correct data but that other individuals cannot fraudulently obtain your data.

Acceptable documents of identity

To help establish your identity this application must be accompanied by photocopies of two official documents which between them clearly show your name, current postal address, date of birth and signature (e.g. passport, driving licence, birth certificate, medical card).

Please note: If you are requesting CCTV / video footage or photographs please also submit a clear photograph of your face (e.g. passport photo) with your form to assist in the search for your images.

Fee

If you are requesting via post.

There is a standard fee of £10. Cheques or postal orders must be made payable to the Police and Crime Commissioner  (Please note - if you are also applying to ACRO for PNC data, the £10 fee needs to be sent to ACRO along with a completed ACRO SAR1 application form)

Local education authorities and schools must keep information on each pupil’s educational progress. They may also keep a record of other information, for example, about the pupil’s medical history, family background, personality and predictions of future potential. The way in which the information is stored will vary between local education authorities and individual schools. Some will store all the information on computer, while others will keep manual records.

The people who have the right to see school records are the pupil themselves and their parents. You must be allowed to see your child’s school record if you make a written request to do so. You must also be supplied with a copy of the record if you ask for it in writing. It should be supplied free of charge or at no greater cost than that of photocopying/postage.

In Wales, the head teacher can arrange for the record to be translated into Welsh, English or any other language that they feel to be appropriate. If a fee is charged for the translated record, it should be no greater than for the original record.

The record must be disclosed within 15 days of receiving the written request for it.

If you think that any part of the school record is inaccurate, write to the local education authority or school holding the record. If the school record is inaccurate, it must be amended.

School records will not be disclosed if....

The record would give information about another pupil.

The record holder believes that disclosure would cause serious harm to the pupil in question or to someone else.

The record holder believes the record is relevant to whether the pupil is at risk of child abuse or has been a victim of child abuse.

The Department for Education and Employment has clarified that the parent with whom the child does not normally live is entitled (unless restricted by the Court) to the same rights as the parent with whom the child lives under issues relating to the Education Act. This means that a non resident parent, has the same rights to information that the resident parent has.

Under the education legislation, if you are the natural parent or hold a percentage of parental responsibility, you are within your rights to receive information regarding your child’s schooling. It is essential that you make sure that the school has your address and knows that you want the same information sent to both parents.

Letter template:

School principles Name,

School Name

School Address

Telephone number

E.mail address

Dear _________

My name is __________ I am the mother/father of (child’s name) (child's date of birth). They are pupils and attend your school. I would be gratefull if you could update your records with my contact details and keep me informed of:

Details of all school reports concerning my children named above.

Dates of parent’s evenings and all other events that a parent may attend.

Details of sports days and any play activities my children named above are involved in.

Any activities where parental responsibility is required.

Any problems or issues regarding my children named above may have.

Any other important matters relating to my children named above.

I am keen to support my children named above and there educational program and if you require any other information or wish to talk to me, please do not hesitate to contact me on the above details.

Yours sincerely

Your Name

Name of the Person to Whom You Are Writing

Title

Street Address

City, State, Zip Code

Re: Name of Child, Name of School, Purpose of Letter (Request for Student Records)

Dear (person’s name),

I am writing to schedule a time to come and review all of my child’s records.

My son/daughter, (child’s name), is in the (__) grade at (name of school), in (teacher’s name) class.

I will also need copies of some or all of these records.

Please let me know where and when I can come in to see the records.

I need these records by (give a date one or two weeks from the letter).

You can reach me during the day at (give your phone number).

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Your name

Request for Medical Records

This form is to be used if you wish to find out what information, if any, The NHS Information Centre is holding or is processing that relates to you. 

Please return your completed application form to:

(refer to your Local hospital website to find the correct address for there legal department)

Section 1:  About Yourself

Title:

Surname:

First Name:

Former Surname:

Date of Birth:

Sex (Male/Female): 

NHS Number (if known) :

Telephone Number (day):

Email Address:

Home Address:

Postcode:

Do you currently or have you previously worked for the NHS Information Centre (including the NHS Central Register) or one of its legacy organisations (The NHS Information Authority, The Prescribing Support Unit or the Department of Health – Stats Division)?  If so please give the name(s) of the organisation(s)

If you would have been known to us by a different name or at a different address during the period to which the information you are seeking relates, please state the name(s) and address (es) below:

Name:                          From (date):         To (date):

Address:

Postcode:

Name:                          From (date):         To (date):

Address:

Postcode:

Section 2:    Proof of Identity

To help establish your identity, you must submit a photocopy of one document from each of the following categories with your application.

i. Confirmation of name

•Full driving licence

•Passport

•Birth certificate

•Marriage certificate

•NHS Information Centre identity badge

ii. Confirmation of current address

•Utility bill

•Bank statement

•Credit card statement

•Benefit book

•Pension book

I am providing the following types of identification, which are attached to this document.

i. Confirmation of name

ii. Confirmation of address

Section 3:  Helping us to find the information

Please use the space below to provide further details that may help to locate the information you are seeking, such as:

• Details of your current and/or previous Primary Care Trust(s) which may assist you in locating your personal medical records (as held by your GP), or any other information you think may assist us

Section 4:  Declaration

The information that I have supplied in this application is correct, and I am the person to whom it relates.  For Power of Attorney please ensure you attach copies of relevant authority.

Signature:                                              Date:

Please note that your information will be posted to you by special delivery which will require a signature upon receipt.  However, if the Royal Mail are unable to deliver to the address given and need to return the documentation to the NHS Information Centre this will be returned by normal post (i.e. not under confidential cover).

Your Checklist.

Is your contact information correct?

Have you enclosed acceptable identification?

Have you signed the form?

Have you completed all the sections?

What is Sarah's Law ? ....

What is the child sex offender disclosure scheme?

The child sex offender disclosure scheme in England and Wales (also sometimes known as “Sarah’s Law”), allows anyone to formally ask the police if someone with access to a child has a record for child sexual offences. Police will reveal details confidentially to the person most able to protect the child (usually parents, carers or guardians) if they think it is in the child’s interests.

Scotland run a similar nationwide scheme called Keeping children safe which allows parents, carers and guardians of children under 18 years old to ask the police if someone who has contact with their child has a record for sexual offences against children, or other offences that could put that child at risk.

In Northern Ireland, Child Protection Disclosure arrangements were launched in March 2016. Under the arrangements, contained in the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, any member of the public can check with the police if a person, who might be posing a risk to children, has a criminal record for sexual or violent offences. Information about relevant criminal convictions is only provided if it is considered necessary to protect the child and it is only disclosed to the person with primary care responsibility for the child, e.g. a parent, carer or guardian.  If there is an immediate risk of harm to a child, this is addressed through child protection procedures.

Why was the scheme developed?

In 2000, Sarah Payne, an 8 year old girl, was abducted and murdered by Roy Whiting who had previously been convicted of abducting and indecently assaulting a young girl.

Following Sarah's death, the News of the World, supported by Sarah's parents, launched a campaign calling for a UK version of what is known as “Megan's Law” in the United States. The proposed "Sarah's Law" would require the police to make information about local sex offenders available to the public.

However, evidence from the United States showed that if an offender's details were automatically made public, a proportion would no longer comply with the notification requirements and could disappear, leaving the authorities unsure of their whereabouts and unable to monitor them (Fitch, 2007). There is also a risk of vigilante attacks from members of the public (Fitch, 2007).

Following a Home Office investigation into the operation of Megan's Law in the US and a review into protecting children from sex offenders (Home Office, 2007), a UK disclosure scheme was developed. To avoid the risks associated with the US system, the UK scheme only disclosed information when a member of the public asked about a specific individual and then only to the carer or parent of the child at risk.

The scheme was piloted in four police areas in in 2008. An independent evaluation of the pilot (Kemshall and Wood, 2010) concluded that the scheme had worked well. In August 2010 the Home Office announced that it would be rolled out across all 43 police areas in England and Wales.

How to use the scheme to access information

People who require further information on how the scheme operates in their own community and how they may make applications for disclosure should contact their local police force for more information.

If the police make a disclosure, parents and carers must keep the information confidential and only use it to keep their child safe. Legal action may be taken if confidentiality is breached. A disclosure is delivered in person, as opposed to in writing, with the following warning:

"that the information must only be used for the purpose for which it has been shared i.e. in order to safeguard children;the person to whom the disclosure is made will be asked to sign an undertaking that they agree that the information is confidential and they will not disclose this information further;a warning should be given that legal proceedings could result if this confidentiality is breached. This should be explained to the person and they must sign the undertaking" (Home Office, 2011).

If the parent or carer is unwilling to sign the undertaking, the police must consider whether the disclosure should still take place.

What is Claire's Law ? ... 

Clare's law - domestic violence disclosure

Clare’s Law, nationally known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, is named after Clare Wood who was murdered in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend who had a history of violence against men.

The disclosure scheme allows you to ask us about the information the police hold on a person in relation to domestic abuse offences and convictions.

Disclosures provide you with the information the police hold on an individual in relation to domestic abuse.

If their checks show that the individual has a record of violent behaviour, or there is other information to indicate someone may be at risk of harm, they will consider sharing this information with you.

Domestic abuse or violence disclosure guidance

Disclosures will only be given to the person best placed to protect the potential victim and who needs to know the details in order to keep them safe. For example, if you are a third party applicant who is worried about the safety of someone else, you may not necessarily be the best person to receive the information.

The police officers aim is to maintain the confidentiality of the applicant and we carefully plan all disclosures to minimise the risk of harm to those concerned. If you receive a disclosure, it should also be treated as confidential.

Please consider the fact that disclosure information is only being given to you so that you can protect yourself, or someone you know. For safety purposes, the police ask you not to share the information unless you have been in contact with an officer and they have agreed.

You can use disclosures to;

keep yourself safe keep children and those involved safe ask what support is available ask for advice on how to keep yourself safe. Apply for domestic disclosure information

Domestic abuse or violence disclosure applications can be made by calling 101, visiting your local police station or by speaking to one of your local community police officers on the street.

You can apply for information about your own partner or as a third party if you are concerned about the safety of someone you know.

Please be aware that if you are a third party applicant, you should have some form of relationship with the potential victim such as sibling, parent, friend, work colleague or neighbour. You must be able to provide details of the person who is potentially at risk of harm and the person who is thought to cause the risk.

Domestic disclosure application process.

Once you have applied for disclosure information, they will carry out relevant checks as soon as they can. An officer will be assigned to your disclosure application and a visit will be arranged. This will include a face-to-face interview to verify your identification and gather further details.

Their aim is to complete all disclosure requests within 35 days but timescales do vary between applications. However, if they receive information which suggests someone is in immediate danger of domestic abuse or violence, appropriate action will be taken.

The police may also meet with other safeguarding agencies such as the Probation Service, Prison Service or local council social services to discuss the information you have provided to see whether they have any other related information. This multi-agency meeting will decide whether providing a domestic violence disclosure is lawful, necessary and proportionate.

CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services...

They offer assessment and treatment when children and young people have emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

1st Appointment:

Your first appointment is called a ‘Choice’ appointment. This appointment gives you a chance to talk about what’s been going on for you and what you think you want and need to change. We also want to find out if CAMHS is right for you when you come.

You can ask to be seen on your own, but the CAMHS Worker may also want to speak with your Parents for a little bit.

Most of the time you will meet a different CAMHS worker for your

2nd appointment.

This is because they try and match you with the person that seems most right in supporting you. This person will be called your Core Worker. You will get a chance to meet with your Core worker regularly.

Sometimes, you and your Core Worker may decide that you need some specific support that is different to what you have done so far and that a different professional can help with..

Here are some of the professionals you might meet:

Psychiatrist: A child and adolescent psychiatrist is a medically qualified person who specialises in understanding and working with mental health difficulties that children and young people experience. A large part of their work involves identifying what your difficulties are, understanding what may have caused them to develop, and giving you and those involved in your care advice about what may help. Psychiatrists are also able to recommend and prescribe medication. 

Psychotherapist: child and adolescent psychotherapists work with children and young people to help them explore their thoughts, feelings, and ways of relating, in order to understand what might be underlying current difficulties. 

Clinical Psychologist: A clinical psychologist is someone who works with children and  young  people  to look at problems such as unhappiness, worry, aggression or loss of confidence.  This normally involves talking about problems and exploring how they start as well as looking at the impact they have on a young person and or their family.   A clinical psychologist would help by looking at and working on the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that can be changed in order to make a positive difference. 

Occupational Therapist: An occupational therapist looks at the effect your difficulties have on the everyday things that are important to you; the things you’d like to do and the things you need to do during a normal day. The occupational therapist then supports you to get back into those activities or to develop the skills you need to take part in them. 

Mental Health Nurse: Mental health nurses (also called community psychiatric Nurses or CPN for short) work with you and your family either at your home, your school or at CAMHS to support you and your family in managing and improving your mental health. We use lots of different ways in supporting your and try and fit this to what works best for you. Sometimes we work with you for only a short period of time, sometimes we might work with you for longer. Some of the nurses you might meet are called clinical nurse specialists (CNS) this means that they have a specialist role within the service. 

Family Therapist: A family therapist helps people in close relationships to help each other. This can be by exploring difficult thoughts and emotions safely or helping to understand each other’s different experiences and views. A family therapist can also help to build on family strengths to help make useful changes in their lives. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to help a family free up their strengths; sometimes difficulties are more complex and families may need longer to find solutions that work for them. 

Primary Mental Health Worker: Primary mental health workers sometimes help with a referral from another doctor or professional (like a teacher) to the CAMHS service.   

Speech and Language Therapist: A speech and language therapist looks at how you are able to communicate and get on with