Strengthening Families and Early Help Privacy Notice
About this privacy notice
This privacy notice explains how Sandwell Children’s Trust collects, uses, stores and shares personal information about you and your child when delivering the Strengthening Families and Early Help service.
When and why we collect information
We collect and hold personal information as part of providing Strengthening Families and Early Help services. This includes information gathered during:
- Requests for help
- Early Help Assessments
- Planning and delivery of support
- Review and closure of cases
Aims of Strengthening Families and Early Help
The service aims to:
- Support vulnerable children, young people and families
- Support family life
- Enable learning
- Help prepare for work
- Improve community safety
- Promote health and wellbeing
- Develop healthier places to live
What personal information we collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Basic personal data such as name, NHS number, date of birth, address and telephone number
- Special category data such as gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, employment status and relevant medical information
- GP details
- Education setting details and attendance information
- Details of employment, training or education being accessed
- Information about health, finances, lifestyle and family history
- Records of current or previous Early Help or Children’s Services involvement
- Relevant information from professionals, family members or others involved in your care
Information received from other organisations
We may receive personal information from:
- Other Council services
- Health service providers
- Friends and family members
- Early years, education and training providers
- Voluntary and community sector organisations
- Police and probation services
- Public Health England
- Government departments
- Other local authorities
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Who we share your information with
If professionals believe that you, your child, or someone you tell us about may be at risk of harm, we may share personal information without your consent for safeguarding purposes.
To provide effective early help, we may share relevant information with Sandwell Children’s Trust, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and partner organisations involved in supporting your family.
How we use your information
- To provide and manage Strengthening Families and Early Help services
- To provide support, information and services to you and your family
- To work with relevant agencies such as schools, health services, housing providers, police, probation, children’s centres, voluntary organisations, youth offending teams and the Department for Work and Pensions
- To support the Sandwell Early Help Strategy and identify needs at the earliest opportunity
- To share information with government departments and partners in support of the national Supporting Families programme
Information may also be shared where required by law, or to prevent and detect fraud.
How we protect your information
All employees and partners working on behalf of Sandwell Children’s Trust are legally required to keep your personal information secure. Information is only accessed by authorised staff and handled in accordance with data protection law.
How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as necessary to provide services, or where required by law. Retention periods vary depending on the service provided.
Your data protection rights
We process personal data to meet legal obligations and to carry out tasks in the
public interest.
You may have the right to:
- Be informed about how your data is used
- Access your personal data
- Request correction of inaccurate data
- Request deletion of your personal data
- Restrict processing of your data
- Object to how your data is used
Legal basis
Processing is carried out under public task and legal obligation. Relevant legislation includes:
- Children and Families Act 2014
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018 and 2023)
- Children and Social Work Act 2017
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Children and Adoption Act 2006
- Foster Services Regulations 2011
- Care Standards Act 2000
- Crime and Disorder Act 1998
- Equality Act 2010
Data Protection Officer
Sandwell Children’s Trust has a Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsible for ensuring your information is handled lawfully.
Office of the Data Protection Officer
Sandwell Council House
Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DE
Email: dp_officer@sandwell.gov.uk
Raising a concern
If you are unhappy with how your personal information has been handled, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Changes to this privacy notice
We may update this privacy notice to keep it accurate and up to date. Any significant changes will be reflected on this page.
Further Reading
The information on this page has been optimised and condensed into a quick read format. You can download the in-depth privacy notice below.
