Exploring Expertise: The ICO’s “Better Records Together” Campaign and new care records standards
Access to information about time spent in state care is a fundamental right for care-experienced people seeking to reclaim memories and better understand their family history and identity. However, the process is often inconsistent, overly complex, and lacking in adequate support.
The Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) Better Records Together campaign responds to evidence that many care-experienced people face significant barriers when accessing their records. These include requests met with cold bureaucracy, a lack of compassion, long delays, poor communication, and excessive or unexplained redactions. ICO research into organisations handling requests identifies a number of challenges, including limited resources and a lack of clear guidance on meeting statutory timeframes. It also recognises that organisations need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to handle requests with appropriate care and empathy.
These issues extend beyond the subject access request process. They begin when a care record is first created and continue throughout its lifecycle. The ICO’s new care records standards provide greater clarity and support, enabling those involved in record creation and access to work together more effectively to connect and preserve people’s stories. They emphasise person-centred, trauma-informed approaches that recognise the role care records play in helping people understand their identity, life history, and experiences in care. The standards also set out clear expectations for the measures organisations should have in place to deliver a more consistent and supportive experience.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
This session offers an opportunity to engage directly with the ICO and the team behind the new care records standards. Drawing on the research and the standards, the session will explore:
• How to create records that children and young people can understand and feel a sense of ownership over;
• How to keep records safe and secure until they are requested and accessed, often several decades later;
• Steps to empower people to access their records, including supporting them to navigate the process and connect with advocacy and other support services;
• How to remove barriers when providing access;
• What senior leaders can do to improve systems and support better record creation; and
• The role of AI in record creation and retention, and its impact on social care practitioners.
The session will bring the guidance to life through case studies and practical steps to support lawful, compassionate, and transparent access to records, while meeting data protection obligations. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions directly of the data protection regulator.
PRESENTERS
Owen Prendeville, Group Manager (Public Affairs) at Information Commissioner’s Office
Owen has been with the ICO since 2018, working for four years in the ICO’s Public Advice and Data Protection complaints teams. Since 2022 he has been Group Manager for Parliamentary Affairs at the ICO, working with stakeholders including government, Parliamentarians and civil society. In addition to co-leading the ICO’s Better Records Together project for the last two years he has also worked on a range of policy issues, guidance, select committees preparation for senior leaders and broader stakeholder engagement in his current role. Prior to joining the ICO, he worked in a number of roles in a law firm and worked for a charity after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a BA (Hons) in Politics.
Jenny Brotchie, Regional Manager for Scotland at Information Commissioner’s Office
Jenny has been with the ICO since 2018. In that time she has worked with a wide range of stakeholders from all sectors in Scotland providing regulatory input and guidance on national issues and policy proposals. She currently leads the Scottish Affairs team at the ICO. Prior to joining the ICO Jenny worked at the Carnegie UK Trust on a variety of policy, advocacy and research projects including those centred on public service reform and evidence-based policy and practice. She has also held a number of third sector roles. A biologist by training Jenny has spent time in molecular biology research labs and has always had a love of data. She believes that good regulation has a critical role to play in improving lives, empowering individuals and protecting against harm and she enjoys working at the intersection between people, policy and practice.
WHO'S IT FOR?
This session will be of interest to social workers, information governance practitioners, carers, frontline staff in local authorities, health and social care trusts, and anyone involved in creating, supporting access to, and providing care records.
FEES
Members: FREE (don't forget to log in to your account to receive your discount)
Non-members: £20+VAT.
Contact
Telephone: 0207 520 7520 / 0310
Email: events@corambaaf.org.uk
£20.00