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1.2 Explain How Legal Requirements And Codes Of Practice Inform Practice In Handling Information

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1.1: Identify legislation and codes of practice that relate to handling information in social care setting.
The Data Protection Act 1988 is legislation which is in place so any individuals private information is secured and protected in confidential files, these can be locked away in a cabinet with a complicated passcode on it or stored away in folders on a locked computer. It also helps to protect the service user’s confidentiality and to ensure they don’t feel like vulnerable adults or children, they should then be able to talk to staff and to confront them with any personal issues knowing it won’t go any …show more content…

The right to have one’s private life respected also includes that private and confidential information gets respected and that details are shared and stored in accordance with strict rules and regulation. The Caldicott Standards also provides additional guidance for health and social care providers on how to manage confidentiality and access personal information in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It highlight six principles on how to protect and handle personal information correctly.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 creates the ‘right to access’ to the public of general information help by public authorities, local authorities and Nation Health Service. Personal data cannot be accessed as this is protected by the Data Protection Act 1998.
1.2: Explain how legal requirements and codes of practice inform practice in handling information.
Legal requirements give us guidance and support when it comes to storing and handling personal/confidential information about the service users. It helps us to store information correctly and safely. For example, we use key safes every day and we have to make sure not to tell anyone the number combination.
The main points of legal requirements and codes of practice for handling information are that the date must be:
• Fairly and lawfully …show more content…

As a Unit Lead, it’s my responsibility to make sure the service users’ information in their care plans are kept up to date, complete, accurate and legible. The care plans have a monthly review system where family members and staff will be involved in review the needs of the service user. However, if a service users’ needs have changed before the monthly review date, these changes must be implemented straight away.
It is important to keep records up to date, complete, accurate and legible as it helps the care staff provide person-centred care.
2.2: Describe practices that ensure security when storing and accessing information.
• Keeping passwords on computer: this secures important information from getting accessed without authorisation.
• Keeping files locked away: this only allows the people holding the key to access important files.
• Coded doors: access is only permitted to the room if the person knows the code.
• Putting information away: once the information is no longer being used, it is important to make sure that it’s locked away

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