Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy (GDPR)
Last updated: 09 January 2026
Who we are: Beacon Social Care Ltd (Registered in England No. 16110952) (“Beacon Social Care”, “we”, “us”, “our”).
Contact email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.beaconsocialcare.com
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store and protect personal data when you use our website and when we deliver our services, including independent social work assessments, safeguarding and family support, immigration expert reports, children’s home consultancy, training/CPD, and recruitment.
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1) How we collect your personal data
We collect personal data in the following ways:
• Directly from you – when you contact us by email or phone, complete forms, instruct us, attend training, or apply for roles.
• From third parties – local authorities, solicitors/legal teams, courts/tribunals, children’s homes and care providers, partner agencies, commissioned services, or other professionals who lawfully share information for assessment, safeguarding, or case management purposes.
• From your use of our website – via necessary cookies and similar technologies [and analytics if enabled—see “Cookies & Analytics” below].
• From publicly available sources – where relevant and proportionate for assessments or due diligence (e.g., professional registers, public court/tribunal listings).
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2) The types of personal data we process
Depending on the service, we may process:
• Identity & contact details – name, date of birth, addresses, email, phone, relationship details.
• Case information – family composition, parenting capacity, risk factors, needs assessments, support plans, supervision/contact notes, return-home interviews, safeguarding information, court/tribunal documents (e.g., Section 7/37 reports, PAMS/ParentAssess, SGO, viability/connected persons, sibling assessments, specialist risk assessments including domestic abuse/substance misuse/mental health/CSE risk).
• Immigration & human rights – age assessments, best interests assessments, social circumstances, impact of separation, relevant Home Office/court materials.
• Children & young people – information about safety, wellbeing, education, health, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), LAC/CLA status, PLO/care proceedings, family network meetings/FGC.
• Training & consultancy – participation records, feedback, professional details.
• Recruitment & vetting – CVs, professional registration (e.g., Social Work England), enhanced DBS outcomes, references, right to work, interview notes.
• Special category data – health, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other sensitive information where necessary and lawful (see lawful bases below).
• Criminal offence data – limited to what is necessary for statutory safeguarding, risk assessment or legal claim purposes, or for safer recruitment (enhanced DBS).
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3) Our lawful bases for processing (UK GDPR & DPA 2018)
We rely on one or more of the following legal bases, as appropriate:
• Contract (Art. 6(1)(b)) – to deliver services you or your organisation (e.g., local authority/solicitor) have commissioned.
• Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)) – to comply with law, court orders, safeguarding duties, and record keeping obligations.
• Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)) – to run and improve our services (e.g., quality assurance, responding to queries/complaints) where not overridden by your rights.
• Vital interests (Art. 6(1)(d)) – where necessary to protect life/safety.
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) – only where we specifically ask for it and you freely give it (you can withdraw at any time).
For special category data (Art. 9), we rely—where applicable—on:
• Health or social care (Art. 9(2)(h)), substantial public interest including safeguarding of children and individuals at risk (Sch.1 DPA 2018, paras 18 & 19), vital interests (Art. 9(2)(c)), or legal claims (Art. 9(2)(f)).
For criminal offence data, we process only where authorised by law and where necessary for safeguarding, legal claims, or safer recruitment (DPA 2018, Sch.1 conditions).
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4) What we use your data for
• Independent social work assessments (court compliant reports; Section 7/37; PAMS/ParentAssess; SGO; viability/connected persons; sibling; risk; age assessments; immigration/human rights reports).
• Safeguarding, family support & parenting work (CIN, CP, CLA, PLO, supervised contact, return-home interviews, home based support, family network/FGC, supported community assessments, respite).
• Immigration matters (deportation appeals, asylum, private/family life, best interests assessments).
• Children’s home consultancy (Reg 44 visits, location risk assessments, property inspections, QA audits, Ofsted preparation, policy/templates, supervision/coaching).
• Training & CPD (delivery, attendance records, certification).
• Business operations (quality assurance, compliance, governance, finance, auditing, insurance, legal claims/defence, safeguarding).
• Recruitment (screening, interviews, references, Social Work England checks, enhanced DBS, onboarding).
• Communications (responding to your enquiries, service updates, invoicing).
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5) Who we share data with
We share personal data only when necessary and lawful:
• Commissioners & partners – local authorities, solicitors/legal teams, courts/tribunals, children’s homes/care providers, statutory agencies, and relevant professionals.
• Safeguarding bodies & law enforcement – where there are concerns about harm, risk or criminal offences (in line with statutory guidance and the law).
• Service providers (processors) – secure IT/case management, email, cloud storage, document creation, telephony, HR/payroll, vetting/DBS, and training platforms, under written contracts and UK GDPR terms.
• Regulators/insurers/advisers – Ofsted (as relevant for consultancy), ICO (if required), auditors, legal advisors, and insurers.
• Where required by law or court order.
We do not sell your personal data.
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6) International transfers
Beacon Social Care supports families and professionals worldwide (including Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Americas). Where personal data is transferred outside the UK (or outside the UK/EEA), we use appropriate safeguards under UK GDPR Chapter V, such as:
• Adequacy regulations;
• The UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or UK Addendum to EU SCCs; and
• Supplementary measures where required.
If a specific transfer or safeguard is not feasible but the transfer is necessary (e.g., vital interests, legal claims), we rely on a relevant derogation under Article 49. You can contact us for details of current safeguards.
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7) Data retention – how long we keep data
We keep personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes collected and to meet legal/insurance requirements. Typical periods are:
• Case/assessment records: [normally 7 years] after case closure (longer if required for legal claims or where local authority contracts specify).
• Children’s records: [consider longer retention consistent with commissioning authority policy; insert period if agreed, e.g., up to 75 years for certain statutory records—confirm with commissioner].
• Training/consultancy records: [6 years] for business/contract records.
• Recruitment (unsuccessful applicants): [6–12 months] unless you agree a longer talent pool period.
• Financial records: [6 years] for tax and accounting.
We securely delete or anonymise data when retention ends.
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8) Your rights
You have the following rights under UK data protection law (subject to conditions/exemptions):
• Access to your personal data and a copy of it.
• Rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure (“right to be forgotten”) in certain circumstances.
• Restriction of processing.
• Data portability (where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means).
• Object to processing based on our legitimate interests or to direct marketing.
• Withdraw consent where we rely on consent (this does not affect processing before withdrawal).
To exercise your rights, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity. We aim to respond within one month.
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9) Children and safeguarding
We process children’s information for assessment, support, and safeguarding purposes. Where appropriate, we seek to involve and inform children and families in a way that is trauma informed, proportionate, and compliant with statutory guidance. We share information with safeguarding partners only where necessary and lawful to protect children or individuals at risk.
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10) Security
We implement technical and organisational measures appropriate to the risk, including access controls, encryption in transit and at rest [where supported by our systems], staff training, confidentiality agreements, and secure disposal. We require our processors to meet UK GDPR standards and we monitor compliance.
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11) Cookies & analytics
Our website uses necessary cookies to function.
If we use analytics (e.g., to understand site traffic and improve content), we do so on a privacy respectful basis:
• Analytics category: [e.g., privacy friendly analytics with IP masking; or name your analytics provider]
• Lawful basis: [consent via cookie banner] or legitimate interests (if strictly necessary and anonymised).
• You can manage preferences via our cookie banner and your browser settings. See our [Cookie Notice] for details.
If you do not wish to be tracked, please adjust your preferences on first visit or via the footer link [Cookie Settings].
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12) Recruitment and vetting (including ISWs and staff)
For applicants, we process data to assess suitability, including references, professional registration (Social Work England), enhanced DBS, and right to work checks. Where successful, data becomes part of your personnel record and is processed for employment/contractor management and compliance.
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13) Sharing information with courts/tribunals and legal teams
For court compliant reports and expert evidence (e.g., Practice Direction 35 and Immigration & Asylum Chamber PD 10 compliance), we process and share data strictly as required by the court/tribunal, applicable rules, and commissioner instructions, ensuring confidentiality and proportionality.
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14) Changes to this Policy
We may update this Policy periodically. Material changes will be noted on this page with a new “Last updated” date.
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15) How to contact us
Beacon Social Care Ltd
Email: [email protected]
Postal address: [Insert registered office or correspondence address]
If your query relates to data protection, please specify in the subject line.
If we appoint a Data Protection Officer or dedicated privacy contact, details will be published here.
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16) Complaints
If you have concerns about our handling of personal data, please contact us first at [email protected]. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
• Website: https://ico.org.uk
• Helpline: 0303 123 1113
• Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
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17) Controller/processor roles
Beacon Social Care Ltd is usually the data controller for the services we deliver directly. In some engagements (e.g., when acting on behalf of a local authority or children’s home under their instructions), we may act as a processor. We will make roles clear in our contracts and communications.
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18) Third party links
Our website may link to third party sites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their privacy notices.
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Optional website footer summary (for quick reference)
Privacy: We process personal data to deliver independent social work assessments, safeguarding & family support, immigration expert reports, consultancy, and training. We use limited cookies and do not sell your data. Read our full Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. Contact [email protected] for data rights requests.
