Promote good practice in handling information Essay

OUTCOME 1- 1.1- IDENTIFY LEGISLATION AND CODES OF PRACTICE THAT RELATE TO HANDLING INFORMATION IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE The Data Protection Act 1998 (2000). This Act gives the individual, the right to see recorded information about them. The Human Rights Act 1998 details the right to a private life. The Health and Social Care Act 2008. This Act established the Care Quality Commission as the regulator for health and social care settings. The Care Quality Commission (registration) Regulations 2009. These regulations apply to all regulated activities that an individual may want to participate in. The Freedom of Information ACT 2000.This act allows people to access information held by the national health service. All relevant personal information held on different individuals cannot be accessed under this act and is protected under the Data Protection Act 1998 (2000). All relevant and personal information should be recorded accurately and factual. Essential Standards For Quality And Safety 2010. Every social care setting is legally responsible for meeting new essential standards. All individuals have the right to be safe to have dignity and respect; they have the right for opportunities, to complete tasks. All individuals have the right to be protected from abuse; they have the right to have a duty of care provided for their well being. 1.2-summarise the main points of legal requirements and codes of practise for handling information in health and social care- Anyone processing personal data must comply with the eight enforceable principles of good practice laid down in the Data Protection Act 1998. These say that data must be: * Fairly and lawfully processed * processed for limited purposes * Adequate, relevant, and not excessive * Accurate * Not kept for longer than necessary * processed in accordance with the data subject’s rights * kept secure * Not transferred to countries without adequate protection The Care Quality Commission also have national minimum standards about how confidentiality must be maintained. The inspectors from the organisation will check the systems for recording and storing information, and make sure that that they comply with regulations. All people who work in social care, regardless of whether it is for a large organisation or an individual employer should be bound by the professional codes of practice which give guidelines for professional behaviour that set out clearly the expectations of those who are working in a professional area. OUTCOME 2- 2.1- describe features of manual and electronic information storage systems that help ensure security- within the home in which I work there are many security blocks in place to ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times for the service user and the staff team. Regarding the service user all information relating to them is kept both on a hard copy, which is kept within our office within a  lockable cabinet which can only be accessed by those that need or have permission to access. Also we have a computerised copy which is protected so that only those working with the service user may have access. There is also other information present within the computer that only managers and seniors may access and this is only Kim Hare 01.07.14   possible through their individual log ins meaning other staff members may not access this at any time. Staff information is also kept as a hard copy and this is locked away within a metal cabinet and only the manager and deputy manager have access to this via a key which is kept with them at all times. This is also where staff 1:1 meetings information is kept safe. Again some of this information is kept on the computers but thanks to the information log ins for staff again only management can access this. Within our computers we also have encryption information meaning only those who have the authority to access this information are able too.