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Data safeguarding is our commitment to responsibly collect, manage, and protect the personal information of children and vulnerable adults, ensuring their privacy, safety, and dignity are upheld at all times. It is vital to our organisation as it not only protects individuals from potential harm but also fosters trust, supports compliance with legal obligations, and ensures the ethical use of sensitive data in all our operations.
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8 Key principles underpin our collection and use of data from children and vulnerable adults
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1. Informed Consent: Ensure that data subjects (or their guardians, in the case of children) are fully informed about what data is being collected, why it’s being collected, how it will be used, and who it will be shared with. Consent must be given freely, with the option to withdraw at any time.
Special Consideration: For vulnerable adults and children, it’s crucial to communicate in a way they can understand, and in the case of children, parental or guardian consent is always required.
2. Data Minimisation: Only collect data that is necessary for the purpose you are trying to achieve. Avoid gathering excessive or irrelevant data that could increase the risk to the individual.
Special Consideration: This is particularly important when working with vulnerable populations. Before collecting any data you need to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment which you can find here.
3. Confidentiality and Security: Safeguard all data, ensuring that it is stored in Google Drivegoogle drive and handled securely to protect against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. Implement strong encryption, access controls, and regular audits.
Special Consideration: Extra care is needed when dealing with sensitive information from children and vulnerable adults. Breaches could result in serious harm or exploitation.
4. Transparency: Be clear about your data practices. Individuals should know who is collecting their data, how it is being used, how long it will be retained, and who it will be shared with.
Special Consideration: For vulnerable groups, ensure transparency is communicated during the informed consent process in an accessible, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive manner.
5. Best Interests of the Data Subject: In the case of children and vulnerable adults, the guiding principle must be to act in their best interests. This includes considering the potential impact of data collection and ensuring it doesn’t put them at risk.
Special Consideration: This principle can sometimes override consent, such as in cases of child protection, where safeguarding the individual is paramount.
6. Data Accuracy: Ensure that the data you collect is accurate and up to date. Regularly review and, where necessary, correct the data you hold.
Special Consideration: Inaccurate data can have serious consequences for vulnerable individuals, especially in terms of service provision or protection.
7. Purpose Limitation: Data should be collected for a specific, legitimate purpose and not be used for unrelated or unexpected purposes without further consent.
Special Consideration: This principle prevents the misuse of data, which is especially important when dealing with the sensitive information of vulnerable individuals.