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'DPA 1998 Violations - File Accuracy and handling'.
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Ron Blakemore By email
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Dear Mr Blakemore
Information Request: FR1798
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 21/01/2010. Your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act and is detailed below in italics with our response.
Your original request is detailed below in italics.
Please supply under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the number
of times Northamptonshire County Council/departments/employees have
broken any Principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last
10 years.
Please also supply under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the
number of sensitive case files that have been checked in the last 8
months for the correct closure date, retention period and
destruction date and how many were found to be incorrect.
Please confirm under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 if Social
Services sensitive closed case files held in Rushden in 1994 and
subsequently held in Wellingborough have been moved and where to.
Our Response
1). NCC does not hold information relating to the number of times departments/employees have
broken any Principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last 10 years.
However, I can report that there are several measures in place to ensure that all staff are aware of the requirements under the Act and to ensure full compliance;
Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act and ways in which confidentiality is maintained are requirements on the person specification for posts within the team.
Interviewees are questioned at interview for evidence of their ability to maintain confidentiality and act in compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Employees dealing with personal information are subject to enhanced CRB disclosure.
All employees undertake an on-line test to gain and measure their understanding of Data Protection.
Service delivery standards clearly set out the expectation with regard to the way in which information is managed.
New staff receive induction, including dealing with confidential information and compliance with Data Protection and all staff revisit the subject regularly as part of team meetings, workshops and continuing professional development.
2).Routine checking of the files does not take place, however reports are run from the corporate system used to manage cases, this gives information about file status and whereabouts.
The management of information is carried out in line with the Records Management Handbook and policies and procedures are in place for staff to follow and staff are trained in the application of these procedures.
3). On the closure of the Rushden office in 1994, files were moved to the Wellingborough office for secure storage. At the end of the period the files are archived to secure store and are held by Mitech Systems our external secure records storage facility.
The disclosure to you of the enclosed information does not give you a right to reproduce or publish such information without the express permission of the County Council or any other owners of the copyright therein.
If you are unhappy with the response, you can ask the Council to review it. To do this please write to the address below:
Paul Edwards
Head of Business Intelligence and Performance
Northamptonshire County Council
PO Box 93
County Hall
Northampton NN1 1AN
If our internal review does not resolve the issue to your complete satisfaction, you have the right to apply to the information Commissioner for a decision at the following address:
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Or, if you have any complaints in respect of your information request please complete the on-line comments form that can be found at www.northamptonshire.gov.uk, along with a full set of guidance.
Yours sincerely
Gillian Hollowell
Senior Freedom of Information/Data Protection Officer
Legal & Democratic Services
Northamptonshire County Council
Please ask for: Gill Hollowell
Tel: 01603 237407
Our ref: FR1698
Your ref:
Date: 17 February 2010
Northamptonshire County Council
County Hall
PO Box 136
Northampton, NN1 1AT
w. www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
t. 01604 237407
f. 01604 237004
e. [email address]