Saturday 11 June 2011

Let Me Save You Some Time…

Social services are investigating how a confidential report was sent to the wrong family.
Because you’re idiots.

Next question?
Sophie O’Reilly, 22, has lodged a formal complaint with Essex County Council after the report was mistakenly sent to her home in Great Knightleys, Basildon.

She had written to the local authority raising concerns about lack of support provided by a social worker for her daughter Ruby, aged three.
Miss O’Reilly expected the package from social services to contain an apology letter
Awwww, bless!
… but was left shocked by what was inside.
She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I opened it up and saw a report about completely different people.

“I obviously haven’t gone through it in detail, but could see it was about something pretty terrible involving a family.

“It makes me frightened to think they might have sent my report to someone else.

“It’s an absolute disgrace and you wonder how many other people have been sent wrong reports.”
It’s impossible to say, until they also go to the local newspaper…
A spokeswoman for the local authority said: “Essex County Council takes very seriously any potential cases where sensitive information is mishandled. Officers are investigating this matter and we will liaise with the families involved.”
And then ignore any potential security issues this raises, no doubt.

3 comments:

Clarissa said...

Will the ICO be investigating this data protection breach I wonder?

Anonymous said...

The incompetence is endemic and I suspect malevolent in some cases. They put complaints in harms' way by declaring who they are to scum, and then protect scum from being named. Genius!
A mate of mine in Child Support found letters being randomly addressed in the mail room as though they were junk mail a few weeks back. This after three payers of confidentiality people signing them through. The 'answer' has been to handwrite the addresses on the envelopes - now the typed labels are stuck over these by the same machine with no after-check! ACO

JuliaM said...

"Will the ICO be investigating this data protection breach I wonder?"

They certainly should do.

"... and I suspect malevolent in some cases."

I think some cases don't necessarily start out as malicious, but once beyond a certain point, then the desire to 'win' at all costs becomes too much.