{"id":671317,"date":"2026-01-03T14:23:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/671317\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T14:23:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T14:23:30","slug":"better-records-together-campaign-the-nen-north-edinburgh-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/671317\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Records Together campaign \u2013 The NEN \u2013 North Edinburgh News"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">\u201cOne old battered brown box was my life story of residential care \u2013 that was all I was worth.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">Survey reveals nine in 10 people left with questions or\u00a0concerns after receiving their care records.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">ICO launches \u2018Better Records Together\u2019 campaign with new resources to support both people with care experience and the organisations handling their records.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nen.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/better-records-together.png?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1057\" height=\"809\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767450209_64_better-records-together.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-220534\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>The Information Commissioner\u2019s Office (ICO) has called for further improvements across local authorities in Scotland after warning that many people trying to access their own care records are being let down.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/about-the-ico\/research-report-into-organisations-handling-requests-for-care-records\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research from the ICO<\/a>\u00a0found that people are facing systemic and demoralising challenges when it comes to their care records.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Over two thirds (71%) of people struggled with poor communication from the local authority and 69% said the process took longer than expected \u2013 with one person still waiting sixteen years later.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">When care records were received, over half (59%) did not receive enough information and nearly nine in 10 (87%) were left with questions or concerns.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>John Edwards, Information Commissioner, said:\u00a0\u201cThis is so much more than a request for personal information. These are people fighting to access their own biography \u2013 their own identity \u2013 that is in the custody of an organisation.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cIt is a brave and emotional step, especially from people who have already been let down by the care system in Scotland. But these requests are too often met with cold bureaucracy, long delays and pages of unexplained redactions, which can have devastating consequences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThis current picture is unacceptable \u2013 but there are many people who play a role in creating better records and better access. As the data protection regulator, we can bring clarity to how these roles work together to thread people\u2019s stories. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe can build a clear pathway by ensuring everyone has the tools they need \u2013 equipping organisations with the certainty and skills to handle requests with care and compassion, and empowering people with the confidence and support to advocate for their own rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cReal change must come from the top \u2013 so today I am calling on local authority leaders across Scotland to take action. We know frontline staff want to get this right but are struggling with lack of resource and guidance. Improving this process starts at the beginning \u2013 when a child enters the care system, their information should be recorded with their rights in mind, knowing that they may request it later. This will reduce the administrative burden and keep the person at the very heart of the process, so future generations do not face the same struggle.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Jackie McCartney, care experienced campaigner and Ambassador for the Rees Foundation, said:\u00a0\u201cI can remember the social worker arriving with my care records \u2013 she carried one old battered brown box. That was all I was worth. That box was my life story of residential care, with sixteen years of my life inside.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cShe told me not to worry \u2013 \u2018there\u2019s not a lot in there\u2019 \u2013 but I wanted to talk to her. Because this total stranger knew more about my life than I did. She had read my story before I had, and decided what I could or could not see. These were my puzzle pieces of how and why I had become a child in care.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cI opened my box and looked inside. I can still feel the pain and disappointment. My records were not even in date order, with whole years of my life missing and no medical records. There were so many blank pages with nothing on, and so much information redacted.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThe whole process must have more compassion and care. I want organisations to see this is more than data, files and words on a page \u2013 this is real people\u2019s lives and stories.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>John-george Nicholson said:\u00a0\u201cWe understand who we are through stories. The ones we tell ourselves and the ones others think and write about us. Growing up in care, the state became my storyteller, taking on the role most people\u2019s families play. My files hold many of those stories, yet for years they seemed to forget who I was.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cI first accessed my records at 22 \u2013 126 pages. Almost 25 years later, I asked again and received more than 800. They are tough and often traumatic to read (when I first received them in the post, they came without warning), but they are also a kind of treasure chest: fragments of memory, windows into a past I\u2019d tried to forget. At first, they broke me. But over time, they became maps, continually changing as I age \u2013 helping me understand, make sense of the damage, navigate the past and future, and see that it wasn\u2019t my fault. I was just a kid in a broken system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cBut the system is still broken, and record-keeping is a critical element of this \u2013 our storytelling. Too often the whole child is lost in forms and reports, their voice minimised or unheard. That has to change. Every child in care deserves records that see them, protect them, and help them heal and thrive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Better Records Together\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The ICO has launched its \u2018Better Records Together\u2019 campaign by publishing a suite of practical resources to help tackle the current issues. The campaign includes:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">new standards for organisations providing clarity on how to handle requests with care, as well as good practice measures to better support people from the moment they enter the care system.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">clear advice for people requesting their records to help them to navigate the process and access support.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"\">UK-wide supervision pilot running across 2025\/26, monitoring the performance of 19 organisations to drive improvements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/about-the-ico\/information-commissioner-calls-for-organisations-to-create-better-records-together\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In a letter sent to senior leaders<\/a>,\u00a0the Information Commissioner has made clear that if improvements are not made, organisations may face regulatory action.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The ICO has been\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/about-the-ico\/media-centre\/news-and-blogs\/2024\/02\/supporting-the-right-of-access-for-people-with-experience-of-the-care-system-in-scotland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proactively engaging with all 32 local authorities<\/a>\u00a0in Scotland after\u00a0receiving\u00a0complaints of long delays when care records were requested. Many local authorities have seen increases in requests over the last few years in relation to Scotland\u2019s Redress Scheme, where people who suffered abuse while in care can apply for redress using supporting documents such as care records. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Some improvements have already been made across many local authorities in Scotland following the ICO\u2019s engagement,\u00a0but these must be sustained and further improvements made. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Earlier this year, the ICO reprimand both\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/action-weve-taken\/enforcement\/2025\/02\/glasgow-city-council\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Glasgow City Council<\/a>\u202fand\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/action-weve-taken\/enforcement\/2025\/02\/city-of-edinburgh-council\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">City of Edinburgh Council<\/a>\u202ffor repeatedly failing to respond within the legal timeframe. It also<a href=\"https:\/\/ico.org.uk\/about-the-ico\/media-centre\/news-and-blogs\/2025\/07\/charity-fined-following-destruction-of-irreplaceable-personal-records\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0fined Scottish charity Birthlink<\/a>\u00a0\u00a318,000 after it destroyed thousands of records, including handwritten letters and photographs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Support for the campaign\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">The regulator is working with charities, advocacy groups and other third parties to ensure their support reaches those who need them most.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nen.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cypcs-nicola-killean.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767450209_5_cypcs-nicola-killean.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-220533\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Nicola Killean, Children and Young People\u2019s Commissioner Scotland, said:\u00a0\u201cThe Information Commissioner\u2019s Office\u2019s campaign to support improved access to records by people with care experience is an important one. It is vital that children with\u202fcare\u202fexperience have access to their own records, in a way that is straightforward and easy for them to navigate.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cChildren who have care experience have the same rights as every other child under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), but they also have extra safeguards. If a child\u202fcan\u2019t\u202flive with their family, this includes having the right to special protection and help.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cCare experienced children and young people have been clear over many years about the importance of proper recording of their time in care. It can help them come to terms with their experience, understand why decisions may have been made, and give them a sense of agency over their own lives. It supports children\u2019s rights to identity, rights to a fair hearing and due process, and rights to respect for private and family life.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Flora Henderson, Director, In Care Survivors Alliance, said:\u00a0\u201cIn Care Survivors Alliance is heartened to see the publication of Information Commissioner\u2019s Office latest guidance around care records. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">This work is vital work in ensuring that people who\u202fare care\u202fexperienced can access their records in\u202fa timely,\u202fsupported\u202fand transparent way. We are aware how difficult information access requests can be for individuals, especially when lack of support can create a significant negative impact. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cAs such, ICO\u2019s guidance is of considerable value. We encourage all those who hold,\u202fcreate\u202for respond to requests for care records to join the collective effort in empowering people to exercise their rights and access their records.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nen.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mary-glasgow.jpg?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"870\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767450210_492_mary-glasgow.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-214569\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive, Children First, said:\u00a0\u201cChildren First supports the \u2018Better Records Together\u2019 campaign because people must be able to understand their past in a way that feels meaningful. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cFor many care experienced people records are the only way to fill the gaps in their history and make sense of who they are. That\u2019s why we prioritise recording children and families\u2019 hopes and dreams, as well as meetings and support. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe make sure that our historical records are as easy to access as possible. Records aren\u2019t just paperwork, they are the threads that weave together the story of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>A spokesperson for Who Cares? Scotland, said:\u00a0\u201cWe welcome the Better Records Together project and are excited for the improvements to accessing records for Care Experienced people it will bring.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">\u201cWe often hear from our members about the difficult and sometimes traumatic experience it can be to get access to their records and then read them. That\u2019s why we\u2019re proud to support the Information Commissioner\u2019s Office with this new phase of their project.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/admin.prgloo.com\/ico.org.uk\/better-records-together\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Visit the ICO\u2019s Better Records Together webpage<\/a>\u00a0to access the resources and find out more about its work to support both people with care experience and the organisations that handle their records.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cOne old battered brown box was my life story of residential care \u2013 that was all I was&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541278,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8816],"tags":[748,1102,4884,712,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-671317","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edinburgh","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-edinburgh","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-scotland","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115831623253157509","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=671317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/541278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=671317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=671317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=671317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}