Subject access requests

Rose113

I’m trying to locate my social services files but the thing is I don’t know where to start I know i need to fill in a subject access request however where do I send it to?

Do I send it to the social services where I lived or
The one where I was adopted from?

Anthony

Hi @Rose113 , it's Anthony from Youth Voice. I have care-experience and have been through this process. I did mine when I was 20, but found it very tricky to do by myself as it was during the Pandemic.

When sending a Subject Access Request, you send it to the place where you were adopted from. For example, my foster home was in Croydon, so I send the request to the social services there. Generally though, do you have a social worker that you could contact? The process would be much easier to do with someone who understands the system--it's not very well designed for people with lived experience!!

Rose113

Hey @Anthony

I was in Blackpool but I was adopted through the preston social services

No I don’t have a social worker 🫠

Anthony

Ah ok @Rose113 , I didn't have a dedicated social worker either. I would email Preston Social Services and see if they have anyone who can assist you through the process. It takes some time, and you could get a lot of stuff to go through. I had 700 pages in my files, and it took me over a year to read them all!

Alternatively, I would look at the Post Adoption Centre (PAC-UK) through google, as they've got quite a lot of resources and advice for people.

I hope it works out, and well done for starting this process! It's not easy, but I found it invaluable in forming a positive and grounded sense of identity🙂

Rose113

Thank you @Anthony