The purpose of processing
Skills Connect (SC) and Future Bright (FB) is funded and run by the West of England Combined Authority in partnership with the Local Councils for Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire.
West of England Combined Authority (or The Combined Authority) is the data controller for SC/FB. Working closely with Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils to deliver this programme. That means we have responsibility to keep your personal data safe, for using it lawfully, and for ensuring your rights to privacy are respected.
B&NES Council and WECA will be joint controllers of your information and the way it is used for the purposes of this FB project.
The aim of FB is to help residents in this region who are in work, but currently relying on state benefits to supplement their earned income. Participants will be given personal career coaching, support, and training to help them find a career path, suited to their individual skills and situation, and to increase their earned income, job satisfaction and job security. FB aims to contribute to the growth of the local economy in the West of England region, and to reduce our residents’ income vulnerability and dependence on state benefits.
WECA has developed this programme as a pilot scheme. It is funded by a grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who want to test new methods of encouraging career progression and increased earnings, in preparation for its new role and responsibilities under the Universal Credit System. We will be providing DWP with statistical data about our FB participants’ career journey, in order to allow them to measure the success of using Future Bright’s innovative, more personalised, methods of supporting in-work progression.
West of England Combined Authority (or The Combined Authority) is the data controller for SC/FB. Working closely with Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils to deliver this programme. That means we have responsibility to keep your personal data safe, for using it lawfully, and for ensuring your rights to privacy are respected.
B&NES Council and WECA will be joint controllers of your information and the way it is used for the purposes of this FB project.
The aim of FB is to help residents in this region who are in work, but currently relying on state benefits to supplement their earned income. Participants will be given personal career coaching, support, and training to help them find a career path, suited to their individual skills and situation, and to increase their earned income, job satisfaction and job security. FB aims to contribute to the growth of the local economy in the West of England region, and to reduce our residents’ income vulnerability and dependence on state benefits.
WECA has developed this programme as a pilot scheme. It is funded by a grant from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who want to test new methods of encouraging career progression and increased earnings, in preparation for its new role and responsibilities under the Universal Credit System. We will be providing DWP with statistical data about our FB participants’ career journey, in order to allow them to measure the success of using Future Bright’s innovative, more personalised, methods of supporting in-work progression.
Data subjects
Participants in the Skills Connect and Future Bright Initiative.
Personal data
1. We will ask you to provide the following types of information: Your name, address and contact details; your date of birth; employment details; your first language; your qualifications; whether you have childcare responsibilities; whether you are a carer; your gender; your sexual orientation; your ethnicity; your nationality, any disabilities, learning difficulties, physical or mental health conditions, your accommodation/housing situation, the type of benefits you are claiming, if you are a care leaver, any criminal offences, any drug or alcohol issues and your immigration status.
2. Your coach/mentor/advisor will discuss a range of questions with you to build an understanding of where you are on your career path; including your current situation, what you would like to achieve, and any challenges you feel you are facing right now. They will ask you to tell them about yourself, your job skills and work history, your education, and your training needs which we may be able to help you with.
3. You will be asked to complete an exit evaluation at the end of your time on the programme to assess the impact of the programme. If you exit the programme before completion, we will ask for your reasons for exiting the programme.
4. Statistics, drawn from the participant information held on the SC/FB database, will be used to evaluate and report on the programme. We report to Government, Local Authorities and partners about the outputs and outcomes of the project to demonstrate the impact of the project and this information may be published. Your information will not be used for profiling or to make automated decisions. You may be asked if you would like to share your own story as a SC/FB participant and be considered for a “case study”. This may then be published in line with your preferences selected on the form.
2. Your coach/mentor/advisor will discuss a range of questions with you to build an understanding of where you are on your career path; including your current situation, what you would like to achieve, and any challenges you feel you are facing right now. They will ask you to tell them about yourself, your job skills and work history, your education, and your training needs which we may be able to help you with.
3. You will be asked to complete an exit evaluation at the end of your time on the programme to assess the impact of the programme. If you exit the programme before completion, we will ask for your reasons for exiting the programme.
4. Statistics, drawn from the participant information held on the SC/FB database, will be used to evaluate and report on the programme. We report to Government, Local Authorities and partners about the outputs and outcomes of the project to demonstrate the impact of the project and this information may be published. Your information will not be used for profiling or to make automated decisions. You may be asked if you would like to share your own story as a SC/FB participant and be considered for a “case study”. This may then be published in line with your preferences selected on the form.
How is it used?
We will use the information you provide to develop a personalised action plan with you, to help you complete the programme, achieve your goals and progress in your employment, skills or training situation. All information recorded will be used to plan the best way to support you and to track your progress.
Only a small number of people who are working for us on this project will be allowed to see the information which can identify you as an individual. They will only use this personal data to:
• Deliver services and support to you.
• To organise and/or review your sessions with any training providers or support services you have agreed.
• To contact you about your participation in the programme; to ask about your experience as a participant to be able to review the delivery and operation of SC/FB. This may be whilst you are on the programme, or after you have finished the programme. This may be conducted internally or by an external agent.
• To monitor the delivery of the programme and to perform research and statistical work.
• To allow required audits to be carried out – to ensure quality and compliance.
• To make you aware of any updates, changes, or promotions in relation to SC/FB.
Only a small number of people who are working for us on this project will be allowed to see the information which can identify you as an individual. They will only use this personal data to:
• Deliver services and support to you.
• To organise and/or review your sessions with any training providers or support services you have agreed.
• To contact you about your participation in the programme; to ask about your experience as a participant to be able to review the delivery and operation of SC/FB. This may be whilst you are on the programme, or after you have finished the programme. This may be conducted internally or by an external agent.
• To monitor the delivery of the programme and to perform research and statistical work.
• To allow required audits to be carried out – to ensure quality and compliance.
• To make you aware of any updates, changes, or promotions in relation to SC/FB.
Profiling and automated decision making
Not applicable
Legal basis for using your data
GDPR condition relied upon for processing personal data:
Article 6.1 e - Exercise of official authority
GDPR condition relied upon for processing special category data
Article 9.2 g - Substantial public interest
Sharing of personal data with external recipients
Information which can identify you (including information such as your name, address, contact details and photographs of you) will only be accessed by authorised personnel working on SC/FB. This may include other departments within the West of England Combined Authority and/or your local council, to support the delivery of the service you may receive. Personnel includes both employees and any external agents/partner organisations who may be contracted by any Party to work for SC/FB, and who are legally bound to comply with that Party’s data protection instructions and policies about use of participants’ personal data.
Personal information which you choose to share will be treated as confidential and we will not share it externally with other authorities or private businesses unless you give us your permission to do so. We are open to considering any aspect of your life which you feel is relevant to your employment situation. This may include information which you feel is sensitive or private so it is important that you feel you can trust us to keep this information safe and not share it with others.
The only exception to this would be if you told your us something which had to be shared with others to protect you, or other people, from serious harm. We also have a duty to tell the police if you tell us about a crime, fraud or a terrorist threat. Even in such exceptional cases you would still have the right to be informed about such reporting (what information we need to report, with whom, and for what purpose) so long as this would not increase the risk of harm to others.
Personal information which you choose to share will be treated as confidential and we will not share it externally with other authorities or private businesses unless you give us your permission to do so. We are open to considering any aspect of your life which you feel is relevant to your employment situation. This may include information which you feel is sensitive or private so it is important that you feel you can trust us to keep this information safe and not share it with others.
The only exception to this would be if you told your us something which had to be shared with others to protect you, or other people, from serious harm. We also have a duty to tell the police if you tell us about a crime, fraud or a terrorist threat. Even in such exceptional cases you would still have the right to be informed about such reporting (what information we need to report, with whom, and for what purpose) so long as this would not increase the risk of harm to others.
How long is the personal data retained by the Council?
Information which can identify you will be retained for a maximum period of 7 years from when your participation has ceased on the project. Information which cannot identify you will be retained after this period and will be used only for statistical and research purposes.
Legislation tells us how long we need to keep some information to perform any statutory or contractual duties. Some data must be held to meet the requirements for public grant funding and auditing requirements. Personal information kept for this reason will be restricted to a minimum.
Legislation tells us how long we need to keep some information to perform any statutory or contractual duties. Some data must be held to meet the requirements for public grant funding and auditing requirements. Personal information kept for this reason will be restricted to a minimum.