Asking for Social Services records

Social services records are covered by the DPA which means you have a right to access them.

However, the Council can refuse you access to your social services records if access would be likely to prejudice the carrying out of social work by causing serious mental or physical harm to anyone.

The Council can also refuse access by a representative where the data subject provided the information in the expectation that it would not be disclosed to the representative or has expressly indicated that he or she does not want the information to be disclosed.

For general information about the work of social services, please visit Community Services.

Asking for a child’s information – parental and guardian rights

Everyone has a right of access to their personal information, including children.  However, as young children may not understand this right or are not capable of exercising this right, in some cases their parents may do so on their behalf.  

There is no particular age when a child becomes capable of exercising his or her own data protection rights.  Rather, the Council must assess the child’s maturity and level of understanding when determining whether a parent should be making a request on the child’s behalf.  To do this, the Council may have to contact you to obtain further information.  

As a general guide, a child of 12 and above is likely to have sufficient maturity but as stated, this will depend on the individual circumstances.  

The Council needs to be very careful about the disclosure of children’s personal information.  If the Council is in any doubt as to whether the parent or guardian is entitled to make a request on their child or ward’s behalf, then the Council may refuse to grant access.  

Asking for information on someone’s behalf

You may designate a third party representative to act on your behalf when making a subject access request, such as, a solicitor, financial advisor, doctor, carer or family member.  

In this case, the Council must be satisfied that you have consented to this arrangement so we ask your representative (and, in some cases, you) to demonstrate this by providing proof of your identity and your signature.

How to make a Subject Access Request

To make a request, you must do the following:

  • Complete the relevant form below.
  • Attach a proof of your identity, such as a copy of driving licence or passport.  If you are acting on behalf of your child or another person, please also attach proof of their identity.
  • Provide the fee of £10 by cheque or postal order made payable to “London Borough of Waltham Forest.”
  • Return the completed form, proof of identity and fee to:

Corporate Information Officer
Corporate Legal Department Office
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Forest Road
London
E17 4JA

Tel:      020 8496 4710

Fax: 0208 503 2089

Upon receipt of your request, the Council has 40 calendar days to respond to you.  The Council will provide you with copies of the information unless otherwise indicated by you.

Please also note that the DPA contains exemptions, which permit the Council to withhold your personal information from you in certain circumstances.  If this is the case, the Council will tell you which exemption it is relying upon and give you its reasons.

Subject Access Request Forms