Sharing info through the Data Sharing Parnership (eCare)
The adult’s consent to share information is obtained wherever possible, by social work or NHS staff, but existing law allows information to be shared without consent where it is required by law or is in the public interest. But disclosure must be proportionate to the harm that’s being caused.
In Lanarkshire, the council and NHS share information through the eCare system and employees are trained to make sure everything is done according to strict rules.
Social workers can't access a person’s medical records – only information that has been recorded in the person’s single shared assessment. Health staff can’t access a person’s entire social work record, only information that’s relevant, such as their home care arrangements, the name of any day care centre they attend and their social worker's name.
The record of a single shared assessment is held on a secure server known as the MAS , the multi-agency store and is available only to staff with a genuine reason to view it.
If an adult refuses permission to share information, that decision is generally respected. But where their wellbeing or safety or the safety or wellbeing of others is at risk, a decision to share information without consent might be taken and the reasons for this carefully recorded.
The adult protection messaging system
This has also been introduced through eCare. This alerts practitioners across Lanarkshire to actual or potential adults at risk and will prompt staff in other agencies to contact social work and share any information they have that might help an adult protection investigation.
There are three adult protection alert message types:
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Message 1 - Will alert people that an adult protection investigation has commenced or that an investigation has commenced and a current adult protection plan is in place
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Message 2 - There is a formal adult protection plan in place for . . .
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Message 3 - Formal adult protection activity for . . . ceased on dd/mm/yyyy
The messages gives the social work team and emergency social work service contact details so there is no need to search for a phone number or check which team to contact.