How we use personal information for our work with young people and vulnerable adults
The categories of the information that we collect, process, hold and share include:
- personal information of the child (such as name, address, date of birth)
- personal information of family members or carers (such as name, address, age of siblings)
- special categories of personal information in the form of characteristics (such as gender, ethnicity, disability, medical conditions)
- information relating to the instances of fire setting (such as referral information, assessment information, details of history of setting fires, dates and details of the interventions that we have carried out)
- special educational needs and behavioural information relating to the child
Why we collect and use this information
We use children and young persons’ and vulnerable adults’ data to:
- record and evaluate our work;
- derive statistics which inform decisions about how we improve safety and support the development of our staff;
- investigate fires and other incidents;
- help you contact other services which may benefit you or improve your safety; and
- deliver and manage safety courses and services for young people.
We collect and use personal information in our official authority as a fire and rescue service. For the collection and use of special categories of personal data, the legal basis that we rely on is Article 9 (2)(g) of the GDPR, and Schedule 1 part 2(6) of the Data Protection Act 2018 which relates to statutory and government purposes.
Storing this information
We keep this information within a database which is subject to strict security controls to ensure that access is limited to those who need to see it.
For our fire safety intervention work, we will keep this information until the young person’s 18th birthday, or, in the case of vulnerable adults, until the age of 25 if a SEN/EH&C Plan is in place.
Who we share this information with and why
We provide information back to referring agencies on individuals who engage in our courses relating to their outcomes and performance.
We have a responsibility to promote social well being. To do this we often work closely with other authorities. To ensure you receive the relevant services, we may need to share your personal and sensitive information with other authorities and partners such as:
- Community Organisations
- Councils
- Police and other emergency services
- Qualification Awarding Bodies
- Voluntary Services
- Health Service
In almost all such cases we will make you aware if your information is intended to be used in this way and provide the opportunity for you to say no. The exception to this is when we are required by law to pass on information such as where a child is at risk of harm or when criminal activity has been disclosed.
Where it is not possible or practical to obtain your consent to share sensitive personal information, we will only share the information if we consider it necessary to protect your vital interests. Such interests are for the protection of life, reduction of crime and accidents and for improving health.
Sharing information with our partners will only take place under strict data sharing protocols with tight security in terms of the transfer of information.