Access to information about time spent under the care of the state is fundamental for care-experienced people seeking to reclaim memories, heal, and better understand their family history and identity. However, the process is often inconsistent, overly complex, and lacking in support, making it feel re-traumatising or alienating. 

The legal framework for accessing children’s social care files is primarily governed by data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Navigating this framework can be challenging for both professionals and care-experienced people. A key tension exists between an individual's right to access their information and the need to protect third-party information. Approaches to handling these requests can vary, which may result in delays, excessive redactions, and a lack of clear guidelines for practitioners. 

There is an urgent need for greater clarity, consistency, and support in this process. Policymakers, practitioners, and campaigners have been advocating for reform to ensure that care-experienced people have meaningful access to their children’s social care files, in a manner that respects their rights and needs. 

My Churchill Fellowship project is shaped by my experience as a practitioner working at the intersection of lived experience, global learning, and policy, practice, and legal reform. I had the opportunity to travel to Australia, where I engaged with leading experts, care-experienced practitioners, and professionals working to improve access to information for care-experienced people. Australia has made significant progress in this area, offering valuable lessons for learning and adaptation within the UK context. 

The interviews in these recordings explore the key challenges and opportunities for improvement in this area. Barriers such as risk aversion, inconsistent recordkeeping practices, overly rigid interpretations of legislative provisions, institutional and technological limitations were identified as creating significant obstacles. Collaboration between various stakeholders—social and legal professionals, archivists, advocacy groups, researchers, and decision-makers—was highlighted as instrumental in driving change. Importantly, care-experienced people and their voices have been at the forefront of these efforts. 

The recordings also highlight the need for clearer guidelines, independent support services, participatory recordkeeping, and a person-centred, human rights-focused, and trauma-informed approach to recording, recordkeeping, and access. 

I hope you find these insights as valuable and thought-provoking as I did!

The interviews below are a few of the many recordings that Augusta facilitated during her study. More of the interviews and resources that were recorded and highlighted will be shared soon.

In conversation with Barbara Reed 

Barbara Reed is a consultant in the field of records, archives and information management with more than 25 years of industry experience in in all levels of Australian government, private sector and not-for-profits. She been active as a trainer and recordkeeping professional, and has played a major role in the development of Australian and international standards for records management, digitisation, recordkeeping metadata and whole-of-government initiatives.

In conversation with Frank Golding 

Frank Golding is an author, researcher, activist and historian. His childhood as a Ward of the State of Victoria in Australia in the ‘care’ of three foster mothers and three institutions underpins his active involvement in Care Leaver issues as an advocate and lobbyist. 

In conversation with Leonie Sheedy 

Leonie is the CEO and co-founder of Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN). She is an advocate for the rights of care leavers and people who are victims of institutional abuse. Leonie has given several major presentations including at the UN in Geneva and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007.

Further resources