The UK government is working in partnership with Local Authorities to deliver its Resettlement Programmes.
Knowsley Council provides services to residents and local communities that necessitate the collection, storage and use of personal information. We have summarised in this privacy notice how we manage this in relation to Resettlement, including for the following programmes:
- UK Resettlement Scheme
- Vulnerable Persons’ Resettlement Scheme
- Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme
- ARAP Scheme – Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy
- ACRS Scheme – Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme
- Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa – HKBN(O)
Who will own my data once I submit it?
Knowsley Council will be the data controller for the information you provide to us and that which is provided to the Council by the Home Office.
Why do you need my information?
Your information is needed as part of the Council’s requirement to deliver the Resettlement programme you have arrived under. The information collected allows the Council to co-ordinate appropriate support for you and to signpost you to services.
You will be allocated a support worker from the Council’s Resettlement team to support you under the programme and we will keep a record of this.
What information will you collect or be provided with?
Under the Resettlement programmes we receive information from the Home Office for each person we welcome to Knowsley. This information is required to ensure people are supported appropriately. We also receive some information direct from the people we support. The information we receive includes the following:
- Name/alias
- Contact details including mobile number, email address
- Date of birth
- Date of arrival in UK
- Address and housing status
- Immigration status (visa/BRP/passport details)
- Family members information, including any children
- Summary of basis for refugee recognition/need for resettlement
- Education, skills and employment
- School and early years placements
- Disability and health information/medical history
- English language tuition and language spoken
- Financial information
- Ethnicity
- Religion
Information relating to any safeguarding concerns This could include criminal offence data. Knowsley Council processes criminal offence data as an official authority
What allows you to use my information?
The lawful basis for sharing your information with Government and other Council and commissioned services is UK GDPR Article 6(1)(e) - the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the Controller. The Council needs to share information such as name, date of birth and address, in order to deliver the Resettlement programme.
Where information is sensitive in nature (special category data) we will only share it under the additional condition of UK GDPR:
UKGDPR Article 9(2) (b) Employment/social security and social protection
Article 9(2)(g) substantial public interest processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest, on the basis of Union or Member State law which shall be proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject. Schedule 1 Part 2 (18) of the Data Protection Act 2018 for safeguarding of children and individuals at risk, in acknowledgment of the guests’ vulnerability in seeking refuge in the UK.
The Council may need to share additional information to help you to access the range of support/services you require such as information on health, mental health, alleged or committed offences.
Some of your information may be used for safeguarding purposes.
The following pieces of legislation provide the Council with the Powers to perform public tasks:
- Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016
- Children and Families Act 2014
- Children and Social Work Act 2017
- Children Act 1989
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act
- Health and Social Care Act 2012
From time to time we may rely on other legislation as necessary to support you, deliver the programme or meet our obligations under the legislation.
Please be aware that your consent is not required where processing is necessary under Article 6(1)(e) and Article 9(2)(g) for safeguarding and processing purposes.
Who will my information be shared with?
We will never share your personal information for commercial gain or marketing.
When we share your personal information, we will only do so where it is necessary and required by law.
The types of organisations we may share your information with include Home Office, Department for Works and Pensions, Education partners, Housing agencies, English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) providers, Employment agencies, Health partners, Substance misuse agencies, Community partners and Law enforcement agencies.
We will not share your information with non-affiliated third parties. We may make you aware of other third parties or voluntary groups that we feel can help you further, but we will not share your data with these groups unless you request us to refer you.
Some examples of these groups will include:
- Share Knowsley
- Centre 63
- Maggie O’Neill Business and Training Centre
- Shakespeare North Playhouse
- Merseyside Youth Association
- Citizens Advice Bureau
Should you move to a different Local Authority we will share your information with the Local Authority you are moving to where support can continue to be provided under the Resettlement scheme.
Do I have to provide this information and what will happen if I don’t?
For each person or family arriving in Knowsley under one of the UK Resettlement programmes, the Council’s Resettlement team allocates a support worker who manages any necessary support required. Adults are requested to give consent to share any additional information necessary to deliver the support.
Should you withdraw consent to share information with the Resettlement team, it will be very difficult for the Council to provide support under the scheme. However, you can opt out at any time by sending an email to Refugee.Resettlement@knowsley.gov.uk
How long will you keep this data for and why?
Resettlement programmes usually provide leave to remain in the UK for 3-5 years. Knowsley Council expects to retain data for 2 years after a programme ends. After this time the information will be deleted from Council systems. Financial information will be retained for 6 years before it is confidentially destroyed.
How will my information be stored?
The information will be stored on the Council’s secure IT systems with access to your information being restricted to only those staff who need to see it as part of their job role. Information shared with the Home Office will be via their secure online portal.
Personal information shared with partner agencies will be sent using encrypted email systems, such as through the TLS secured domain list or by Egress secure mail.
Will this information be used to make automated decisions about me?
No. Decisions will be made by officers of the Council taking account of the information available.
Will my data be transferred abroad and why?
No. Information will be kept on Council servers including Microsoft cloud servers which are hosted in the UK.
What rights do I have when it comes to my data?
Under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018/ UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have the following rights with regard to your personal data: -
- The right to subject access – you have the right to see a copy of the personal data that the council holds about you and find out what it is used for
- The right to rectification – you have the right to ask the council to correct or remove any inaccurate data that we hold about you
- The right to erasure (right to be forgotten) you have the right to ask the council to remove data that we hold about you. However, the Council can refuse to erase your personal data where it is processed to comply with a legal obligation or for the performance of a public task or in the public interest
- The right to restriction – you have the right to ask for your information to be restricted (locked down) on council systems
- The right to data portability – you have the right to ask for your data to be transferred back to you or to a new provider at your request
- The right to object – you have the right to ask the council to stop using your personal data or to stop sending you marketing information, or complain about how your data is used
- The right to prevent automated decision making – you have the right to ask the council to stop using your data to make automated decisions about you or to stop profiling your behaviour (where applicable)
To find out more about your rights under the DPA 2018/UK GDPR, please visit the Information Commissioner’s website.
To request a copy of your data or ask questions about how it is used, please write to: -
Data Protection Officer
Knowsley Council
Westmorland Road
Huyton
L36 9GL
Or email: Inforights@knowsley.gov.uk
Who can I complain to if I am unhappy about how my data is used?
You can complain directly to the Council’s Data Protection Team by writing to: -
Data Protection Officer
Knowsley Council Municipal Building
Archway Road
Huyton
Liverpool
L36 9YU
Or email: data.protection.officer@knowsley.gov.uk
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office using the following details: -
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45