Policies & Information Governance

• Making a request to see the information we hold about you

The Subject Access Request form may be used if you wish to make a request under the Data Protection legislation for information you believe we may hold about you.

We are not obliged to comply with a request unless it is supplied with such information as we may reasonably require in order to satisfy ourself as to the identity of the person making the request and to locate the information which that person seeks. Accordingly, while you may have already made a request to us by other means, we may still require you to supply us with additional information (as set out in this form).

?? Click here for the Subject Access Request Form

• Fee

There is no fee for processing a subject access request under the Data Protection legislation.

• Identification

Unless Onside indicates otherwise, you should also provide identity documentation. More guidance on what type of documentation to provide can be found in the request form.

• Submitting the request

Please send the completed form and copy identity documentation to dpo@onside-advocacy.org.uk

• How will we process your request?

We will verify and shred your proof of identity documentation. We will aim to acknowledge receipt of your request within two working days. We may ask you to clarify the request where its terms are not clear to us or where we need additional information in order to search for the requested information.

Upon our receipt of a valid request, we will arrange for searches to be carried out for the requested personal information.

We may subsequently ask you whether you require copies of particular communications which we suppose may already be in your possession (e.g. correspondence previously sent to you by us or by other parties).

Where the personal information requested by you is contained in records of communications with third parties (e.g. an employer or contracting body, a regulator, or a public authority), we will normally seek the views of each such third party on the issue of disclosure. We do this to inform our decision-making as to whether the disclosure of certain information (e.g. the personal information of staff members of the third party) would be lawful.

We will send the response to you securely by email, or if you wish to receive it by post, we will send it to your residential address or to the business address of your representative by recorded delivery.

• Timeframe

There is a one calendar month timeframe for responding to subject access requests. We will endeavor to respond to your request within one calendar month of receipt of a valid request.
 

Freedom of Information

• What is freedom of information?

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives the public the right to request any recorded information from a public authority. The authority will then have 20 working days to provide this information subject to any exemptions.

• How do we process freedom of information requests?

We pride ourselves on being an open organisation and will endeavour to respond to requests for information where we are required to under the guidance attributable to the services we provide. While we will provide as much information as we can, due to the sensitivity of some of this information, the organisation has a duty of confidence to both service users, volunteers and staff. In line with FOI Act, this means that no information will be released which could lead to the identification of an individual.

It is important to inform individuals who may make requests that some activities that Onside undertake are exempt from FOI legislation.

• Where can you make your request?

Any requests in the first instance should be made to the DPO and we will forward on as appropriate. If you require further information, you may contact our Data Protection Officer: dpo@onside-advocacy.org.uk

 

Data Protection Officer

The Data Protection Officer is Umar Sabat. He is independent and oversees our data protection compliance and can be contacted at dpo@onside-advocacy.org.uk