Privacy policy – Beacon Fostering
Beacon Fostering Limited
Your privacy is a key priority for us. We are committed to maintaining your privacy, respecting this and ensuring data is held securely.
All persons have rights regarding the way in which their personal information is handled.
During the course of our activities and providing fostering services, we will collect, store and process personal information about foster carers, children, young persons, professionals, staff, contactors, local authorities, suppliers and other any third parties, and we recognise that the correct and lawful treatment of this data will maintain confidence in the organisation and will provide for successful business operations.
This document and policy sets out the basis on which any personal information we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by Beacon Fostering Limited.
Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal information and how we will treat it.
For the purpose of UK data protection laws, the data controller is Beacon Fostering Limited (Company number 15235314) of 3000 Aviator Way, Manchester, M22 5TG (collectively referred to as “Beacon”, “we”, “us” or “our” in this privacy notice).
Our Data Protection Officer is Simon Williams, who can be contacted by writing to the address above or by emailing info@beaconfostering.com
Please also note that Beacon Fostering Limited is part of Sunbeam Fostering Group Limited (“Sunbeam”) and information and data may be shared with Sunbeam on a secure basis and only where required for the purposes set out in this document.
Data protection principles
When processing your information, we must comply with the six enforceable principles of good practice. These provide that your personal information must be:
1. processed fairly, lawfully and in a transparent manner;
2. processed for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes;
3. adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary;
4. accurate and kept up-to-date, kept for no longer than is necessary’
5. kept for no longer than is necessary, and
6. processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security.
The information you give to us
We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal information about you, including:
• Identity Data, such as your name, title, marital status, date of birth, gender, a copy of your passport and driving licence;
• Lifestyle Data, such as your current living arrangements, number of dependents, details of languages spoken, employment details, significant relationships, and details of any previous fostering arrangements;
• Contact Data, such as your address, email address and telephone number;
• Financial Data, such as bank account and payment card details, national insurance number, confirmation of personal insurance and details of any benefits you may be in receipt of;
• Special Category Data, including your race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious or philosophical beliefs and details about your health;
• Criminal Records Data including details of any spent convictions, cautions or warnings;
• Medical Data, including a medical assessment report and details of any social care support you may be receiving;
• Transaction Data, including details about payments to and from you;
• Technical Data, including IP addresses, your log-in data, browser type and version, time-zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform and other technology on the devices you use to access our website;
• Usage Data, including information about how you use our website, products and services;
• Marketing Data, such as your preferences in receiving marketing from us and our third parties, and your communication preferences;
• Referral Data, placement information shared at the matching stage from local authorities relating to children or young persons;
• Care Data, covering the key care documents and information relating to children and young persons including care plan, placement plan, risk assessments, personal education plan, pathway plan and other related reports; and
• Education Data, such as children or young’s school/other educational information and grades relating to their school performance.
‘Special category’ data
During the course of our engagement with you, we may collect information about you relating to your racial or ethnic origin, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, details of any criminal convictions and details about your health (such information is known as ‘special category’ data).
This is most likely to occur, for example, if you make an application to become a foster carer with Beacon.
How we collect your personal information
We may obtain personal information by directly interacting with you, such as when you:
• complete an application form to become a foster carer either in paper form or via our website;
• request further information about becoming a foster carer;
• attend one of our fostering information or training events;
• complete one of our feedback forms either in paper form or via Survey Monkey;
• participate in our assessment process to become a foster carer;
• subscribe to our services or publications, or otherwise requesting marketing material to be sent to you; or
• correspond with us by phone, email, letters or otherwise.
We may obtain personal information via automated technology when you interact with our website by using cookies, server logs and other similar technologies.
We may also collect personal information about you from third parties or publicly-available sources including (but not limited to):
• Local authorities and other fostering agencies;
• Form F assessors and panel members responsible for evaluating your application;
• Your GP or medical practice;
• Other professionals that are engaged (for example: therapists, psychologists, support workers)
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS);
• your employer or other referees;
• analytics providers (such as Google);
• employment or recruitment website or providers (for example: indeed)
• advertising networks;
• training providers;
• event partners;
• search engine information providers;
• providers of technical, payment and delivery services;
• Companies House;
• LinkedIn and other social media platforms (for example: facebook, instragram, tiktok) and
• the electoral register.
How we use your personal information
We will only use your personal information when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal information in the following circumstances:
• you have given us consent;
• we need to perform a contract we are about to enter into, or have entered into, with you;
• where it is necessary for our or a third party’s legitimate interests and your interests and rights do not override those interests; or
• where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
We will only use ‘special category’ information:
• provided we have your explicit consent to use it;
• where we believe that we need to use that data to protect your vital interests where you are not able to provide us with your explicit consent;
• where it is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest;
• where you have previously made that data public knowledge; or
• if we need to use that data to establish, exercise or defence legal claims.
If you have any questions relating to this Privacy Policy or general use of your information or data, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@beaconfostering.com or 0161 266 2079.
Beacon is registered with ICO (Independent Commissioners Office) for data purposes.