Brandon Centre and Your Information

Brandon Centre takes your privacy very seriously. We are registered with the Information Commissioner as a Data Controller and our registration number is Z7598448.

If you have any questions or concerns about your information, please contact our Data Protection Officer on emma.cooper35@nhs.net.

How Does Brandon Centre Collect my Information?

We will collect personal information about you directly when you;

  • Complete the online referral form and email it to us
  • Provide us with information during sessions with our staff

We will collect personal information about you indirectly when;

  • A parent or carer completes the online referral form and emails it to us
  • We communicate with your health or care provider

We will collect information about you automatically when you visit our website;

  • Cookies
  • Device information
  • Location information

We use Google Analytics to collect this information to allow us to understand how our website is being used. This information is only used in a way which does not identify you. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website.

The information we collect will be stored on paper records or in electronic systems. The information includes Personal Data;

  • basic details about you, such as address, date of birth, and family information as well as Sensitive Personal Data;
  • notes and reports about your physical and mental health
  • information about your sexual orientation or sexual life
  • information about your home life
  • notes of conversations we have had and actions we have taken such as giving prescriptions or telling you about services or support that is available

Data protection law allows Brandon Centre to collect, store, use and share your information because it is in the public interest and because we are delivering health and social care.

You have a right to object to us using your personal information.

Our Use of CCTV

CCTV is in place at Brandon Centre.

It has been installed solely for the safety and security of our service users and staff, to prevent and deter crime.

​Images are recorded 24 hours a day and stored on the hard drives of the recording devices that are situated in secure areas and only specific managers and those delivering technical support services will have access to the system.

​The CCTV only records images and does not record audio.

​All CCTV recordings are stored on our recording devices for 21 days before being deleted.

There are signs in the building telling you that CCTV is in place.

​We will only ever share information with the relevant authorities or individuals in connection with the safety and security of service users and staff and will not share with any other third parties.

​Visitors to the practice have the right to request to see images of themselves on CCTV as part of a request made under the privacy legislation. To make a request, speak with reception.

​We have followed the CCTV guidelines produced by the Information Commissioners’ Office.

Text Messaging

If you provide us with a mobile number, we may use text messaging to communicate with you about Brandon Centre activities or the services you use to receive.

We may text you;

  • To send survey/questionnaires which are then saved into your record
  • To send referrals letters or summaries
  • Contact you about appointments
  • Contact you if you are not able to answer a phone call
  • Send you test results or ask you to call to discuss your results
  • Send you general public health messages about COVID 19, mental health or wellbeing services

​​You can object at any time by getting in touch with us.

If you share a mobile phone with someone, please be mindful that they may see information about your use of services – let us know if you have any concerns about this.

​We use a trusted provider for our SMS service called Firetext and you can find about more about them at https://www.firetext.co.uk/

​How Does Brandon Centre Use my Information?

Brandon Centre will use your information in the following ways;

  • To make initial contact with you and to contact you while we are supporting you
  • To keep a record of conversations we have had and actions we have taken such as giving prescriptions
  • To create a record of the ways we have supported you
  • To respond to your requests to exercise your rights
  • To make referrals with your knowledge

To undertake some of these activities, your information will be shared internally across our teams. We will work to ensure that only the right people have your information and that they are only given the information they need.

How Does Brandon Centre Share my Information?

Brandon Centre works hard to ensure that only the right people have your information and that they are only given the information they need.

Brandon Centre uses other companies to help us deliver some of our services such as;

We have contracts in place with these organisations that prevent them from using it in any other way that how we tell them to. These contracts also require them to maintain good standards of security to ensure your confidentiality.

Brandon Centre staff may use the messaging service ‘Whatsapp’ to communicate with you if you request it. You do not have to participate in using ‘Whatsapp’ or sharing personal data via this platform. Doing so is at your own risk. Brandon Centre has no direct contract with Whatsapp and therefore cannot guarantee the security or compliance of the service.

Personal data will not be shared with organisations not related directly to our services without letting you know and giving you a chance to object (unless required by law – see below).

Will Brandon Centre Share without Asking Me?

Sometimes we will be required by law to share your information and will not always be able to discuss this with you directly.

Examples might be:

  • Sharing with the police or tax authorities for the detection or prevention of crime
  • Where it is in the wider public interest – to keep the public safe; for example, to control infectious diseases.
  • To safeguard children or vulnerable adults
  • Because the court has told us we must share

What are my Information Rights?

Data protection law provides you with a number of rights that Brandon Centre is committed to supporting you with;

Right to Access

You have the right to obtain:

  • confirmation that your information is being used, stored or shared by Brandon Centre
  • a copy of information held about you
  • If you only require a particular part of your record, tell us and this can reduce the time it takes to provide it
  • We will respond to your request within one month of receipt or will tell you when it might take longer.
  • We are required to check your identity including the identity of someone making a request on your behalf

Right to Object

We collect, use, store and share your information because we are permitted to by law, but you do have a right to object to us doing this.

When we collect, use, store or share your information based on your consent, you have a right to withdraw that consent at any time.

Our Data Protection Officer will be happy to speak with you about any concerns you have.

Right to Correction

If information about you is incorrect, you are entitled to request that we correct it.

There may be occasions, where we are required by law to maintain the original information – our Data Protection Officer will talk to you about this and you may request that the information is not used during this time

We will respond to your request within one month of receipt or will tell you when it might take longer.

Complaints

You also have the right to make complaints and request investigations into the way your information is used. Please contact our Data Protection Officer or visit the link below for more information.

For more detailed information on your rights visit https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/

Does Brandon Centre Use Profiling or Automated Decision Making?

No Brandon Centre does not undertake automatic profiling or automated decision making in relation to your information.

How Does Brandon Centre Protect My Information?

Brandon Centre are committed to ensuring the security and confidentiality of your information. There are a number of ways we do this;

  • Staff receive regular training about protecting and using personal data
  • Policies are in place for staff to follow and are regularly reviewed
  • We check that only the minimum amount of data is shared or accessed
  • We use controlled access to systems; this helps to ensure that the right people are accessing data – people with a ‘need to know’
  • We use encrypted emails and storage which would make it difficult for someone to ‘intercept’ your information
  • We report and manage incidents to make sure we learn from them and improve
  • We put in place contracts that require providers and suppliers to protect your data as well

How Long Does Brandon Centre Store My Information?

Brandon Centre will retain / store your information in line with the guidance provided by the Department of Health.

We will soon be publishing a breakdown of the records and the length of time we keep each of them.

Updated June 2022

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