Privacy notice relating to the processing of personal data by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for the purpose of Domestic Abuse Support Service (RCT Independent Domestic Violence Advisor & Drop In Support Service).
Introduction
This privacy notice is intended to provide information about how Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (referred to as ‘RCTCBC’, ‘Council’, ‘Local Authority’, ‘we’) will use (or ‘process’) personal data about individuals for the purpose of providing domestic abuse services.
This notice should be read in conjunction with;
- The Council’s corporate privacy notice
- Pontypridd Safety Unit Confidentiality Statement
The Data Controller
The Council is the data controller for the personal data processed for the purposes of domestic abuse services.
The Council is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a controller under reference Z4870100.
Queries relating to this privacy notice
If you have any questions or queries relating to this privacy notice please contact the Pontypridd Safety Unit
By email : PontypriddSafetyUnit@rctcbc.gov.uk
By telephone : 01443 400791
In writing : Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Safer Pontypridd Unit, Ty Ashgrove, Upper Church Street, Pontypridd, CF37 2UF
Who we are what we do
The Council’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor and Drop In Support Service provides advice, advocacy, support and safety measures for victims and children affected by domestic abuse. The Service works closely with other appropriate agencies to inform effective safeguarding measures and contributes to local, multi- agency safeguarding forums.
The Service also supports the delivery of a Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme for male perpetrators with the aim of effecting behavioural change and reducing abusive behaviour towards victims.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE ?
Behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is “domestic abuse” if—
a) A and B are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other,
and
(b) the behaviour is abusive.
Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following—
(a) physical or sexual abuse
(b) violent or threatening behaviour;
(c) controlling or coercive behaviour;
(d) economic / financial abuse
(e) psychological, emotional or other abuse;
and it does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.
Whose personal data we process
We hold information about service users who are referred to us by the Police following a domestic abuse incident or those referred from other agencies such as Health, Probation Service, Children and Adult Social Care, Housing Services and other domestic abuse specialist agencies
Service Users may also self-refer via the Centre’s Drop In Service or by contacting the Service independently.
The categories of personal data we process
We may process the following categories of personal data;
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your National Insurance Number
- Address and contact telephone numbers
- Details of any children / vulnerable persons associated with you
- Details of the perpetrator associated with you
- Details of the domestic abuse you have experienced and the risk of abuse posed to you
- Special category information such as ethnic origin, marital status, nationality, religion, sexual orientation
- Health information such as any disabilities
- Your support needs including housing history
Why we process the personal data
We process the personal data, this may include but is not limited to the following activities;
- To help us identify what support you need and what level of safety measures we can support you to access to keep you safe
- Where there are critical safeguarding concerns or where the level of domestic abuse being experienced is deemed to be high risk we will share your information with other partner agencies to inform further safeguarding measures for you including the Cwm Taf Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
- To help us manage the services we provide to you and improve the way we provide them.
Our lawful basis for processing the personal data
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), our lawful basis for processing the personal data to provide domestic abuse services are;
- Legal Obligation (c) – processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject.
- Public Task - Article 6 (e) – processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
The primary legislation, regulations and guidance that supports this includes, but is not limited to;
- Serious Crime Act 2015 section 76
- Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
- Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015
- Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Who or where we get the personal data from
We may receive the personal data from the following categories of individuals or organisations;
- From yourself when you request to access the service
- A Police referral
- The Cwm Taf MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) for high risk victims of domestic abuse
- From our Partner Agencies who may already be supporting you but require our assistance or where partners make a referral on your behalf.
Who we share personal data with
We may share the personal data with the following key organisations to support effective safeguarding for you
When sharing the personal data, we only share the minimum amount necessary in relation to the purpose.
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Who
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Purpose
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Council departments such as Housing, Social Services (Adult/Children)
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To support you in your involvement with other Council departments eg. application for Housing
To contribute to statutory safeguarding processes eg. Child Protection
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Government Agencies such as the Police, Health, Fire Service
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To support you to access Health Services
To seek assistance for additional safety planning for you
To contribute to statutory safeguarding processes eg. Child Protection
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Department of Work & Pensions
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Where we support you to access additional financial support
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Muliti Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
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The aims of the MARAC are:
- Safeguard Victims (and their Children)
- Manage Perpetrator Behaviour
- Safeguard Professionals
- Make links with other safeguarding processes / agencies
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Partner Agencies such as
Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)
Other Specialist Support Agencies such as but not limited to other Domestic Abuse agencies, Drug and Alcohol Support Service, Community Mental Health Service
Charitable Organisations such as but not limited to Care & Repair, Buttle Trust
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Responsible for Co-Ordinating the weekly MARAC meetings
To make further referrals to access services and support on your behalf
To make further referrals to access services and support on your behalf
To provide you with property target hardening where required
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Data Processors
A data processor is a company or organisation that processes personal data on our behalf. Our data processors act only upon our instruction. They cannot do anything with the personal data unless we instruct them to do so. They will not share the personal data with any organisation apart from us or use it for their own purposes. They will hold it securely and retain it for the period we instruct.
The categories of data processors we use for the purpose of managing your case are;
- IT system suppliers
How long we retain the personal data
We retain the personal data contained within domestic abuse service records for:
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Length of time
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Reason
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6 years after end of service intervention
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To support effective safeguarding process and to enable data to remain available in order that the Service can comply with its requirements in relation to Domestic Homicide, Adult Practice and Child practice reviews.
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In keeping with the General Data Protection Regulation storage limitation principle, records are periodically reviewed. Not all personal data is retained. Only personal data that is relevant to the record is retained for the entire retention period.
Your data protection rights
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives individuals important rights, including the right of access to the personal data that the Council holds about you.
Click here for further information on your information rights and how to exercise them.
Your right to make a data protection complaint to the Council
You have the right to complain to the Council if you believe we have not handled your personal data responsibly and in line with good practice.
You can do this by contacting the Pontypridd Safety Unit directly via one of the following communication methods. Most concerns can be resolved relatively quickly through a simple phone call or email;
- Email : PontypriddSafetyUnit
- Telephone : 01443 400791
- In writing : Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Safer Pontypridd Unit, Ty Ashgrove, Upper Church Street, Pontypridd, CF37 2UF
Alternatively, you can raise a formal complaint via the Council’s Customer Feedback Scheme using the following link (Make a comment, compliment or complaint online) or you can contact the Council’s Data Protection Officer at Information.management@rctcbc.gov.uk.
Your right to make a data protection complaint to the ICO
You also have the right to complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data. However, we encourage you to contact us first and provide us with an opportunity to look into your concern and put things right.
The ICO can be contacted:
- Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
- Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
- Website: https://www.ico.org.uk