Getting support and practice right for accessing care records in Scotland
A new report published on 8 July 2024, provides more information on what people with care experience in Scotland have experienced regarding their right of access to records from the time they were in care and recommendations to improve practice.
The research and report was undertaken by Aberdeen City Council, the Champions Board of West Dunbartonshire Council, The City of Edinburgh Council, Future Pathways, Social Work Scotland and Who Cares? Scotland, is designed to provide the foundation for a Gold Standard Best Practice Guide in supporting access to care records by providing a baseline for the creation of a consistent, trauma-informed, rights-based framework for responses to Right of Access requests.
Currently, the management of access requests varies across Scotland.
The report recommends that:
- Practice and processes are regularly reviewed by record holders
- There is improvement on how records are accessed
- Access to records should be a key aspect of care in Scotland and contribute to Scotland’s commitment to The Promise
- Record holders involve people with care experience during the process of accessing their records while honouring personal choices and providing a tailored process for those making access requests
- People are informed about redaction processes and applicants are collaborated with during this process
- Record holders create clear and open lines of communication from the start of the Right of Access process alongside the clear and chronological (where possible) organisation of records and easier access of record protocols for agencies
Records are important to people with care experience because these are often unique and provide information from their lives and personal history which may otherwise be unavailable. Meeting the recommendations would ensure that every care experienced person can access their records safely and with support.