Councils can Avoid Losing Sensitive Data with Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 13, 2012 -- Local authorities aren't taking necessary precautions to protect sensitive data which jeopardises the public's privacy. Many believe emailing is secure, although they’re in fact unencrypted so sensitive information is not adequately protected.

E-mailing has exposed businesses that deal with sensitive information to the risk and threats of the security that IT systems present regarding data protection. In fact, over eighty per cent of viruses are distributed via e-mail.

Accounts of sensitive data relating to child protection cases being lost and stolen are becoming all too much of a regular occurrence with the consequences posing devastating effects.

A £140,000 penalty has been given to Midlothian Council after sending sensitive child protection documents to the wrong recipients on numerous occasions, resulting in major distress for the families concerned.

One breach imposed by Midlothian Council meant that documents concerning a foster carer were sent to several healthcare professions who had no reason to see the information. This is a strong deterrent at a time where foster carers are hard to come by.

Minutes of a child protection conference were even sent to the former address of a mother's partner and the document was read by his ex-partner. Personal data on the children's mother was exposed and the entire case was jeopardised. What might seem to be a minor error, can result in a child’s welfare being put at stake.

This instance may be a first for Scottish councils but these cases are becoming ever evident around the UK. It was only a few months ago that 8 out of 22 Welsh councils were exposed to have cases of data lost and stolen in the last three years. Among the cases, five laptops and four memory sticks containing sensitive information have been lost by local authorities.

More recently, confidential information on 45 families were misplaced after a USB computer data stick was in a handbag when it was stolen from a lady who worked at a children’s centre in North Devon.

Lost and stolen records result in penalties from the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) the UK’s data protection watchdog. These losses are mainly due to staff using e-mail systems that are not protected and are far from reliable. It is often social services and local authorities who are caught up with data protection mishaps. Yet where child protection cases are concerned, information should be dealt with the highest level of security.

When this type of sensitive information is distributed and stored using unprotected means, there is a high risk of that information falling in to the wrong hands.

Atkinson Lewis Ltd specialises in case management software and services for the family courts. The organisation has pioneered secure document transfer software called EDT (Electronic Document Transfer). The software can safely send and retrieve sensitive information and can only be viewed by the intended recipient, eliminating the risk of information falling in to the wrong hands.

David Atkinson, an expert who has worked with childcare court cases for 15 years said “Our EDT system offers all professionals the convenience of having all your documents in one central space, reducing the need for archiving and printing.

“The software has been specifically designed for the purpose of child protection cases for the use of solicitors and local authorities. The solicitors, courts and local authorities we work with are actively using the software and have already reported savings in both time and overheads.”

Furthermore, it has been revealed that approximately 132 councils had lost private data across UK councils. Staff and human error is often the blame of these instances. Nearly all of the breaches raised would have been easily prevented with the use of EDT.

EDT also offers time saving benefits with the software saving approximately 80 per cent of time spent photocopying, sending and retrieving documents.

For further information on Atkinson Lewis’s legal software and tools that can help you to save time and money, contact them on 0330 1002 555, email enquiries@atkinsonlewis.co.uk or visit their website www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com.

ENDS

For Media Enquiries:
For interview or further information about this topic, please contact Miss. Kathryn Powell, PR Officer for Atkinson Lewis Ltd.
Email: Kathryn@atkinsonlewis.co.uk
Telephone: 01792 578623 ext 148
Address: Atkinson Lewis Ltd., 1st Floor, Unit 1, Ystrad Road, Swansea, SA5 4HJ

Website: www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com

Notes to Editors:

Atkinson Lewis

Atkinson Lewis is an organisation that specialises in case management services and software. We’re a team of specialists, pooled from all the medical and scientific fields that play a role in childcare cases.

Our clinical experts have spent over 15 years helping to establish patterns of substance abuse among parents and potential carers. And all the while, our admin team has been supporting casework, managing the needs of Courts, Local Authorities, Solicitors and Social Services.

We’re here to save you time and effort – providing all the medical and scientific expertise you need, as well as removing the admin burden. Our complete service includes psychiatric and psychological reports, collection and testing of hair and blood samples, interpretation of lab results and more. We’ll even provide an expert witness to support your case in Court.

EDT

EDT is a brand new Electronic Document Transfer system by Atkinson Lewis. With EDT, every file from your client’s case is scanned, encrypted and uploaded to a secure server - then you (only you) control distribution. Confidentiality assured. Whether you’re sharing legal documents, lab results, Expert Witness reports or entire Court Bundles, it’s a smart, efficient solution that will transform the way you work.

Every Solicitor and Case Manager seems to have the same problem. There’s just not enough space for all those lever arch files that document previous cases. Whether you archive on site or use a document storage facility, there’s a cost to keeping your records intact for the statutory 6-year period.
If you’re over-run with case notes, or running up hefty storage bills, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an alternative.
Our new EDT system is a highly encrypted platform for archiving and sharing confidential documents online. Once a document is uploaded, you can share it with people you nominate – safe in the knowledge that no-one else can gain access without your permission.

Of course there’s nothing new about electronic document storage. But with an EV SSL certificate, and strict document transfer protocols, EDT is the safest way we know to archive and share sensitive information.
It will help you in all kinds of ways:
• Security – Keep tighter controls, with no risk that documents will fall into the wrong hands.
• Efficiency – Access current case notes instantly and choose a service level for retrieving archived documents...it’s easier than travelling back and fore to your DX collection point.
• Cost control – Electronic storage will cost you a fraction of your physical storage costs.
• Space sharing – A chance to make better use of valuable storage space.

• Eco-friendly – A more responsible way of working – which could be important for future contracts with your Local Authority.

child protection     data protection     Family Courts     family law     Government Technology     local authorities     social care     social workers