Reforms suggested for safeguarding data rules

Lesley Walker said staff need a proper legal basis to share information if safeguarding issues arise

Reforms to legislation could create a duty for public bodies to release information where safeguarding concerns arise on the Isle of Man.

Chairman of the safeguarding board Lesley Walker said despite commitments from senior figures, barriers remain in place that prevent vital information being shared.

Subject to government approval, the reforms to the Safeguarding Act will begin in the autumn.

Ms Walker said there was "confusion" around what information can be shared, in part due to data protection laws.

'Barriers'

Speaking to the social affairs policy review committee, Ms Walker said that despite the board's best efforts, people were unsure what information can be shared, which has led to missed opportunities to intervene.

She told politicians that at a conference held on the island, the chief executive of Manx Care and the island's chief constable had given "very clear statements about the responsibility of staff to share information when they have any safeguarding concern about any child or vulnerable adult".

Ms Walker said a survey of staff had later shown "some" increase in confidence around sharing information, but that the "barriers" were still in people's minds.

"What we've agreed as a board is that the Safeguarding Act should be updated to include a duty to share information for safeguarding purposes," she said.

"We felt that the staff really needed that legal basis to really strengthen that confidence."

The proposed changes will need approval from ministers before going to Tynwald.

Ms Walker also told the committee that while the board was not able to confirm how many reports had been received in the last year, due to the way the agencies handle this complaints, there would be data in an upcoming annual report.

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