Handling information Essay

1. Understand requirements for handling information in health and social care setting 1.1 identify legislation and codes of practice that relate to handling information in health and social care: All of the staff need to make sure that confidentiality is paramount. Staff have to read and understand the Data Protection Act of 1998. We have to make sure that we are clear about our standards of conduct, that we are expected to meet. We are encouraged to use the codes of conduct to maintain our own practice is good and we need to look at any area’s that we can improve on. When it comes to Medication, staff have to make sure that all stock is listed on the MAR sheet. The Human Rights Act 1998 details the right to a private life. There is also the GSCC code of practice for social care workers, which provides a clear guide for all those who work in social work, setting out the standards of practice and conduct workers and their employers should meet with regards the handling of information. There is also Caldecott standards which govern the sharing of information based on the Data protection Act. 1.2 summarise the main points of legal requirements and codes of practice for handling information in health and social care. The 8 Principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 states the personal data must be: Processed fairly and lawfully Processed only for one or more specified and lawful purpose Adequate, relevant and not excessive for the purpose Accurate and kept up to date Kept for no longer than is necessary Processed in line with the rights of the individual Secure against accidental loss, destruction or damage and against unauthorized / unlawful processing Not transferred to countries outside the European economic area The six main points of the gscc code of practice states that health and social care workers must provide the following: Protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers. Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers. Promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm. Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people. Uphold public trust and confidence in social care services. Be accountable for the quality of your work and take responsibility for maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills. 1.3. describe features of manual and electronic information storage systems that help ensure security Manual systems inevitably mean paper type records (text, photos, X-Ray, hand written notes or comments, etc.) These require to be out of general view when in use and locked away when not in use or attended. Lockable filing cabinets, locked rooms (by key or number pad), locked briefcase (when in transit) and special vaults and safes. Electronic records can be protected by password access to the computer, to the folder, to the file. Some systems allow access (to anything electronic) by only authorised personnel based on employee number or similar. Some computers are not connected to the internet to avoid the risk of intervention. Movement of data should require that the data is first encrypted so if intercepted cannot be viewed.