Data Protection Policy
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose of Policy
I need to gather and use certain information about individuals.
These can include clients, suppliers, employees and other people that I have a business relationship with, or may need to contact.
This policy describes how this personal data will be collected, handled and stored to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations.
1.2 Policy Statement
I am committed to a policy of protecting the rights and privacy of clients, staff and others in accordance with GDPR.
I commit to:
- Comply with both the law and good practice.
- Respect individuals` rights.
- Be open and honest with individuals whos data is held.
- Provide training and support to staff who handle personal data, so that they can act confidently and consistently.
- Register my details with the information Commissioners Office (ICO)
1.3 Personal data
I may hod data for the following purposes:
- Provision of direct healthcare
- Case histories
- Provision of direct healthcare.
1.4 Data Protection Principles
There are six data protection principles that are core to the GDPR.
I will make every possible effort to comply with these principles at all times in my information handling practices.
These principles are:
- Lawful fair and transparent - Data collection must be fair, for a legal purpose and I must be open and transparent as to how the data will be used.
- Unlimited for its purpose - Data can only be collected for a specific purpose.
- Data minimisation - Any data collected must be necessary and not excessive for its purpose.
- Accurate - The data I hold must be accurate and kept up to date.
- Retention - I cannot store data longer than necessary.
- Integrity and confidentiality - The data I collect must be kept safe and secure.
1.5 Key risks
The main risks are in two key areas:
- Information about individuals getting into the wrong hands, through poor security or inappropriate disclosure of information.
- Individuals being harmed through data being inaccurate or insufficient.
2 Responsibilities
I am the data controller for all personal data held by me and I am responsible for:
- Analysing and documenting the type of personal data I hold.
- Checking procedures to ensure they cover all the rights of the individual.
- Identifying the lawful basis for processing data.
- Ensuring consent procedures are lawful.
- Implementing and reviewing procedures to detect, report and investigate personal data breaches.
- Storing data in a safe and secure way.
- Assessing the risk that could be posed to individual rights and freedoms should data be compromised.
3 Data recording, security and storage
3.1 Data accuracy and relevance
I will ensure that any personal data I possess is accurate, adequate, relevant and not excessive, given the purpose for which it was obtained.
I will not process personal data obtained for one purpose for any unconnected purpose unless the individual concerned has agreed to this or would otherwise reasonably expect this.
3.2 Data Security
I will keep personal data secure against loss or misuse. Where other organisations process personal data as a service on my behalf, I will establish what, if any, additional data specific security arrangements need to be implemented in contracts with those third party organisations.
3.3 Stored data securely
- In cases where data is stored on printed paper, it will be kept in a secure place (locked filing cabinet in locked office) where unauthorised personnel cannot access it.
- Printed data will be shredded when it is no longer needed.
- Data stored on a computer will be protected by strong passwords that are changed regularly.
- Data stored on CDs or memory sticks will be encrypted or password protected and locked away securely when they are not being used.
- Any cloud service used to store personal data will be assessed for compliance with GDPR principles. An authenticator app will be used to access cloud data.
- Data will be regularly backed up.
- All servers containing sensitive data must be protected by security software.
- All possible technical measures will be put in place to keep data secure.
3.4 Data retention
I will retain personal data for no longer than is necessary. This shall be in accordance with the guidelines of my professional associations - FNTP and NNA
4 Accountability and transparency
I will ensure accountability and transparency in all my use of personal data. I will keep written up to date records od all the data processing activities that I do and ensure that they comply with each of the GDPR principles.
I will regularly review my data processing activities and implement measures to ensure privacy by design including data minimisation, pseudonymisation, transparency and continuously improving security and enhanced privacy procedures.
5 Consent
I will ensure that consents are specific, informed and plain English such that individuals clearly understand why their information will be collected, who it will be shared with, and possible consequences of them agreeing or refusing the proposed use of the data. Consents will be granular to provide choice as to which data will be collected and for what purpose. I will seek explicit consent wherever possible.
I will maintain an audit trail of consent by documenting details of consent received including who consented, when, how, what, if and when they withdraw consent.
I will regularly review consents and seek to refresh them regularly or if anything changes.
6 Direct Marketing
At present, (2020) I do not carry out direct marketing. If this changes I will comply with both data protection law and privacy and electronic communication regulations 2003 (PECR) when sending electronic marketing messages. PEC restricts the circumstances in which we can market people and other organisations by phone, text, email or other electronic means.
I will seek explicit consent for direct marketing. I will provide a simple way to opt out of marketing messages and be able to respond to any complaints.
7 Subject access requests
7.1 What is a subject assess request?
An individual has the right to receive confirmation that their data is being processed, access to their personal data and supplementary information which means the information which should be provided in a privacy notice.
7.2 How to deal with subject access requests
I will provide an individual with a copy of the information requested, free of charge. This will occur within one month of receipt. I endeavour to provide data subjects access to their information in commonly used electronic formats.
If complying with the requests is complex or numerous, the deadline can be extended by two months, but the individual will be informed within one month.
I can refuse to respond to certain requests, and can, in circumstances of the request being manifestly unfounded or excessive, charge a fee. If the request is for a large quantity of data, I can request that the individual specify the information they are requesting.
Once a subject access request has been made, I will not change or amend any of the data that has been requested. Doing so is a criminal offence.
7.3 Data portability requests
I will provide the data requested in a structured, commonly used and machine - readable format. This would normally be a photocopy, word or PDF file, although other formats are acceptable. I must provide this data either to the individual who has requested it, or to the data controller they have requested it to be sent to within one month.
8 Transferring data internationally
There are restrictions on international transfers of personal data. I will not transfer personal data abroad without express consent.
9 Third Parties
9.1 Using third party controllers and processors
As a data controller and/or data processor, I will have written contracts in place with third party data controllers (and/or) data processors that I use. The contract will contain specific clauses which set out my and their liabilities, obligations and responsibilities.
As a data controller, I will only appoint processors who can provide sufficient guarantees under GDPR and that the rights of data subjects will be respected and protected.
As a data processor, I will only act on the documented instructions of a controller. I acknowledge my responsibilities as a data processor under GDPR and I will protect and respect the rights of data subjects.
9.2 Contracts
My contracts will comply with the standards set out by the IOC and, where possible, follow standard contractual clauses. My contracts with data controllers (and/or) data processors will set out the subject matter and duration of the processing, the nature and stated purpose of the processing activities, the types of personal data and categories of data subject, and the obligations and rights of the controller.
10 Reporting breaches
Any breach of this policy or of data protection laws will be reported as soon as practically possible. This means as soon as I become aware of a breach.
I have a legal obligation to report any breaches to UK supervisory authority which is the information commissioners office, within 72 hours.