Did you know that you have a right to look at the records that social services have kept about you? It says so in the Data Protection Act 1998. There are a few ways you can do this.

1) Ask an advocate to help you through the process.

2) Talk to your social worker and ask them for any specific information you want. They may be able to give you the bits you want to see easily

3) Put in writing to your social worker that you want to access your files under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998. Make sure you get a letter from them to say they have received your request.

4) Write a letter to the information Compliance Officer explaining what you want:

Information Compliance Officer
Brighton and Hove City Council
Room 218
Hove Town Hall
Norton Road
Hove
BN3 4AH

The people preparing your files have to take out any information that is not about you and is about other people. This is because, just like you, they have the right to confidentiality.

The law says that from the moment social services receive your request you should have your files within 40 days. If there are lots of files it may take longer than this but social services must let you know and ask how you feel about that.