The Scottish Borders Learning Disability Service is an integrated health and social care service formed under The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. This means that NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council work together to provide this service.

The law says if anyone keeps information about you they have to do this securely and let you know.

This means that SBC and NHS Borders jointly process your personal data to enable us to support you.

You can contact the Council's Data Protection Officer on 0300 100 1800 or by email dataprotection@scotborders.gov.uk or by post to:

Data Protection Officer, Information Management Team, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, TD6 0SA

What information do we collect?

We collect, use and store information about you such as your name; address; date of birth and sensitive information concerning your family background, your social circumstances and your health needs.

Why do we collect information?

The information we collect about you is to make sure that we fully understand the support you need and keep you safe.

We collect and use your information to meet our duties as a healthcare/social care provider under:

  • Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968
  • Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
  • Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
  • National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
  • Other relevant legislation in health and social care, children's legislation

Who will we share your information with?

Your information will be kept confidential and only shared with others who need to know. There may be circumstances where we will need to share your information with other partners such as the Police; other Social Work services; Education; and support providers. This helps us to meet your needs and to ensure that you and/or others are safe.

We may be required to share certain data with other public bodies such as the Care Inspectorate and will do so where the law requires this.

Your information may also be shared and used to produce reports to help us find ways to improve our service and plan for the future.

In general we do not transfer personal data outside either the UK or Europe. On the rare occasions where we do so, we will tell you. We will only transfer data outside the UK and Europe if we are satisfied that the organisation that will handle the data and the country it is being transferred to will look after the information properly and securely.

How long will the data be held?

We will keep your records safe after we close your case for a maximum of 75 years. We will keep your information for 5 years after you die.

Your rights over how we use your data

Data Protection provides you with the right to ask whether we are holding and using your personal data; what personal data we are using; who we share it with; how long we will keep the data for and what your rights are over how it is used.

You can:

  • Request a copy of or access to your personal data
  • Request that access to your personal data is restricted
  • Request that any inaccuracies recorded are correct
  • Raise an objection and request that we stop using your personal data
  • Request that you are not subjected to automated decision making
  • Request for your personal data to be transferred to another organisation

You make a request at any time to the data protection officer at either Scottish Borders Council or NHS Borders using the contact details provided above.

If you have any concerns with the way we handle your personal data, please contact the Data Protection Officer at either SBC or NHS Borders.

If, after raising your concerns with the Data Protection Officer, you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner (ICO), 45 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.
Tel: 0131 244 9001, Email: scotland@ico.org.uk
Alternatively, you can visit https://ico.org.uk or email casework@ico.org.uk