0800 802 1910It is important to know where we come from, learn about our roots and understand our family history. Diagrama holds records for people with whom we have worked over the years including former child migrants. We support and guide people through the complex process of finding out about their backgrounds, making family connections and developing a stronger sense of identity.
Diagrama Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation, and is a charity registered with Ofsted.
Since November 2014 Diagrama Foundation has been responsible for holding the records for the former organisations:
Cabrini Children’s Society
The Southwark Catholics Rescue Society
The Southwark Catholic Children’s Society
Portsmouth Diocesan Catholic Child Welfare
Our records are held in the strictest confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 principles and timeframes. There is a statutory duty to retain records for 75 years.
To apply for your personal records, please complete the application form and return it to us with relevant photo identification such as a passport or driving license. Once your identity has been confirmed we will be able to confirm whether we hold an entry on a logbook for a children’s home or records for you. We will then be able to advise you of the process for receiving your records.
The allocated social worker will phone you and go through some questions including finding out how you would like to receive your records. You may like the records sent through the post by signed for delivery with zoom support from the social worker or you may prefer records to be sent to an independent social worker or counsellor. Following this discussion, the allocated social worker will prepare the file and redact/remove any third party information. Original letters from family members are usually given and a copy is kept on Diagrama files.
Statutory guidance states that access to the file must be provided within 30 days of your identity being confirmed and Diagrama endeavour to adhere to this guidance.
Useful organisations:
Information Commissioners Office ico.org.uk 0303 1231113
Care Leavers Association www.careleavers.com
Historical Abuse and Safeguarding Children
Diagrama is fully committed to taking the necessary action when incidents of abuse, current, or historical are brought to our attention. We take reports of abuse very seriously and are particularly concerned to prevent harm to any child today. Any disclosures of abuse will be discussed with you, but we will make the final decision about what action to take.
You may find the following websites of use:
Family members of deceased care leavers:
Diagrama is able to provide ‘Family Descendant’ work for family members who are searching for the adoption records or care records of their relative who has since passed away.
The family member must first provide evidence that the relative has died, along with identification to prove who they are and how they are related to the adopted adult. The relative is made aware of the cost of this service when they make their enquiry and are sent a contract so they are clear about Diagrama’s procedures.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to understand the details of the fees. Also, be aware we understand that money may be a barrier to some people being able to access this information, if this is the case please email us and we can see how we can help.
Upon receipt of the signed contract, the request is added to the Access to Records waiting list. If it’s identified that Diagrama holds the care files for the deceased relative a social worker will have an initial telephone call with the birth relative to understand their motivation for accessing the adoption records. Following this, a summary of the file is produced. It is important the birth relative is made aware that certain information may need to be removed/redacted from the file and the birth relative will not be able to see it. During the initial telephone call, the social worker will explain what information may need to be removed/redacted.
Once the summary has been produced the social worker will send this to the birth relative with a cover letter and there will be an opportunity to have a follow-up zoom call to discuss any issues if this would be helpful.
Contact:
We look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions or enquiries about the services the Access to Records service offers.
Please email us at adoption@diagrama.org and we will do our best to respond to you in a timely manner.