1. The Possibilities are Endless?
iNetwork Troubled Families Event
Kings Church Manchester
30th March 2012
Lynne Shackley Lead Policy Officer
Information Commissioner’s Office

2. ICO’s role Freedom of Information Act Data Protection Act
Enforce and regulate
Freedom of Information Act
Data Protection Act
Environmental Information Regulations
Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations
Provide information to individuals and organisations
Adjudicate on complaints
Promote good practice 2

3. Purpose
To talk about information sharing and what barriers to this exist
To try to determine the nature of those barriers
To offer some solutions

4. Fact or Perception? Frances Maude at the ICO DPO Conference:
“There is a lack of understanding between and within public administrations as to what can and cannot be done…”
“We are too often hampered by outdated cultural practices and the legal complexities surrounding data sharing…”

5. A Lack of Understanding?
Let’s look at internal understanding
What enables public authorities to share information?
It’s legislation, but not always the DPA
What is the relevant legislation for you?
Who would know, how would you find out?
How is this information kept up to date and refreshed?

6. Interesting Documents
Children act 2004
Local Safeguarding Children Board Regulations 2006
Children Act 1989 (s47)
Adoption Act 2002
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Police Reform Act 2002
Policing and Crime Act 2009
Housing Act 2004

7. Internal Cultural Barriers
And let’s look at internal culture
The management / practitioner divide
Who’s who and what do they know?
Building internal networks
Engaging with internal stakeholders
Highlighting and publicising the DP issues
A virtual internal community
Answering the question: what’s in it for me?

8. And Other Challenges Inadequate or out of date policies
We don’t want to reinvent the wheel, BUT
Inadequate or out of date policies
Poor procedures
Processes not “owned”
Ideas not thought through
Too much external advice and guidance
No knowledge of “good” documents or templates to utilise
Poor communications, governance and oversight

9. Inside out Dealing with partners
Understand their restrictions and barriers
Help them to understand yours
Deal jointly with some of the challenges
Hold frank discussions
Train together
Build good communication channels and use them

10. The Possibilities ARE:
Maybe not endless, but definitely what you make of them
Government want a fully local approach
Work toward an embedded partnership approach, not task by task but building for the future
Numerous organisations and projects dealing with this, some closely associated with iNetwork

11. And finally…
Questions? or
Comments? 11