Handling Information in health and social care settings
Explain why it is important in a health and social care setting to have secure systems for recording and storing information (HSC028-1.1)
In a health and social care setting, there are a number of reasons why it is important to have secure systems for recording and storing information. Some of these reasons include:
To protect service users’ and even care workers’ private information from unauthorised viewing by third parties (other people who are not supposed to have access to those information) without proper reason to do so.
For confidentiality of the service user
To make sure that relevant information is readily available for those who need to know, such as other service providers and law enforcement officers.
To comply with the law; such as is required by the Data protection Act.
Identify to laws or pieces of legislation that relate to the recording, storage and sharing of information in health and social care settings (HSC028-1.1)
The Data Protection Act 1998 controls how an individual’s personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government. It says that everyone who handles certain information or data needs to follow some strict rules. Service users must know what records are being kept and why the data is kept. In practice, it says that service user information must be confidential and can only be accessed with their consent.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 was developed to increase transparency in the public sector. Under this individuals have the right to request access to recorded information held by public sector organisations/agencies or to request to know whether information is held. This Act does not apply to personal data.
Sometimes you may have concerns about recording, storing or sharing information. Using the table below list a concern you may come across and how you would resolve this (HSC028- 2.2)
Concern How to resolve the issue
Recording Information
• Not sure what exactly to record if an incidence
In a health and social care setting, there are a number of reasons why it is important to have secure systems for recording and storing information. Some of these reasons include:
To protect service users’ and even care workers’ private information from unauthorised viewing by third parties (other people who are not supposed to have access to those information) without proper reason to do so.
For confidentiality of the service user
To make sure that relevant information is readily available for those who need to know, such as other service providers and law enforcement officers.
To comply with the law; such as is required by the Data protection Act.
Identify to laws or pieces of legislation that relate to the recording, storage and sharing of information in health and social care settings (HSC028-1.1)
The Data Protection Act 1998 controls how an individual’s personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government. It says that everyone who handles certain information or data needs to follow some strict rules. Service users must know what records are being kept and why the data is kept. In practice, it says that service user information must be confidential and can only be accessed with their consent.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 was developed to increase transparency in the public sector. Under this individuals have the right to request access to recorded information held by public sector organisations/agencies or to request to know whether information is held. This Act does not apply to personal data.
Sometimes you may have concerns about recording, storing or sharing information. Using the table below list a concern you may come across and how you would resolve this (HSC028- 2.2)
Concern How to resolve the issue
Recording Information
• Not sure what exactly to record if an incidence