Can you offer any advice for care homes to ensure they comply with the new laws surrounding data protection as I am continually receiving emails about how much we must change but can’t help thinking a lot of it is scare mongering from companies trying to gain more business!

Answered by Sheila Scott

Dear S,

Thank you for your question.

I have taken the following four paragraphs from the front page of the Office of the Information Commissioner’s website:

“Data Protection law changes on 25 May 2018″

The law on Data Protection says what you should do when you collect, use, store or do anything else with people’s personal data. This law changes on 25 May 2018.

The changes reflect the realities of the digital age and the need for people to take more control over their personal data.

So, you need to check whether data protection law and the coming changes apply to your business. You can do this by taking the self-assessment below.

Why is Data Protection important?

Your customers, employees and other individuals need to be able to trust you to look after and use their personal data properly and safely. Knowing they can trust you is good for your business.”

In very simple language, I believe that these lines describe exactly what it is that the new regulations are trying to achieve i.e. that any information that is held by any business or similar organisation is held safely and securely and in confidence and that surely is exactly what we would like to happen to data held about ourselves whether that is a Government Department or an online retail outlet for instance.

For you as a care home you should be able to find all the information that you need on the Information Commissioner’s website: including a Data Protection self-assessment toolkit.

If you are a customer of Quality Compliance Systems, you will have been receiving regular updates and policy documents about GDPR.

Finally, you might also like to look at the Care Provider Alliance’s website where they have further guidance specifically relating to providers of care.

There is no getting away from the fact though that you must comply with this legislation and you must take the appropriate steps.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes.

Sheila