Supported Families privacy notice

Privacy notice for data accelerator - Supporting families

This privacy notice covers the processing of personal information under the Supporting Families Programme. It is built on existing Council’s privacy notices on Supported Families; it will tell you what we do with your information and how we use it to provide you with the support you and your family need.

The Supporting Families Programme

Supporting Families 2023 video (YouTube) is an overview of an innovative digital solution called “Data Accelerator” which aims to improve the way in which Greater Manchester (GM) delivers the Supporting Families programme This digital platform aims to provide Children’s services and partners with high-level information to allow them to understand needs and risks at the earliest opportunity, to be aware of existing support and interventions; and to develop a tailored whole-family approach.

The Supporting Families programme (Gov.uk) (previously called the Troubled Families programme) was launched in 2012, and enabled Local Authorities and partners to provide effective service delivery and support for those families who have multiple, complex needs. A further extension for 3 years (2022-2025) by the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

On 23 May 2023 the Government announced with a written statement from the Prime Minster that it has agreed to transfer responsibilities for the Supporting Families programme from the DLUHC to the Department for Education (DfE) from April 2024.

The data accelerator - How we will use your information

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has created the platform using Microsoft Azure Synapse. The approach will help all organisations involved to identify and better understand families experiencing multiple vulnerabilities, for example by comparing and collating data from different public sector sources into one place. This facilitates multi-agency working by displaying a joined up, single view of a child. This will allow professionals to connect quickly and reduce the need for the family to explain issues multiple times.

The Local Authority is the sole owner and custodian of their data set on the platform. Information will be held securely and will only be used and shared on a strict need to know basis with authorised partners in Greater Manchester for the purpose of identifying, supporting, and evaluating the work with families who have the most need.

The information is used to make informed decisions about families across the GM region and to assure they get the help they need to address any potential disadvantages. The Council will share information internally and between our partner agencies in a secure and robust way to deliver a whole-family approach and where possible help resolve these problems at the earliest stage, preventing them from escalating. The sharing has three primary aims:

to identify families facing multiple disadvantages
the improvement of the physical, mental, emotional, social, or economic well-being of individuals and families
to gain a better understanding of the impact of Children’s Services intervention and therefore an improvement or targeting of appropriate support to individuals or households.

The Council and its partners work together to support families who face the following challenges:
Challenge	How we help
Parents or children who are or have been involved in crime or antisocial behaviour.	Enabling families to stay safe in the community, reducing crime and Anti-Social behaviour.
Children who have not been attending school regularly and do not positively engage with their education. Support for families where there are children who have Special Educational Needs or Disability.	Enabling children to attend school regularly and receive a good education to develop skills for life. Support Young people with their aspirations and provide support for families if their child or children have Special Educational Needs or Disability.
Children who need additional support, from the earliest years to ensure good early years development	Improving children's life chances by supporting them at the earliest stage, including maternity support. Ensuring that children live in safe homes. Ensure that children take up their offer of supported funded places at nursery.
Families who are experiencing financial difficulty, are not in work or have unmanageable debt or rent arrears. Families where there is a Young Person who is not in education, employment, or training.	Supporting parents to take steps towards employment and become work ready. Support children who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) to secure apprentices, traineeships, work, or further learning. Support families with the management of their debt.
Families affected by domestic abuse.	Enabling families to stay safe in relationships and children to live in homes free from Domestic Abuse
Parents and children with a range of health needs, both physical and mental health.	Enabling families to live well, improve their physical and mental health, manage long term health conditions and wellbeing.
Parents and Young People who have a drug or alcohol problem.	Support to reduce dependency on drugs and alcohol.
Problems with family relationships, parents, or who are in conflict. Children who have caring responsibilities for a family member.	Support to improve family relationships and reduce conflict in the home. Signposting to Young carers support groups.
Children who are at risk of or experiencing exploitation or experiencing harm from outside the family. Children who go missing from home. Children who are experiencing neglect or abuse in the home.	Support to reduce the risk of exploitation. Support by a lead professional to reduce the risk to the child. Support to improve parents understanding and impact of neglect and improve outcomes for children across a range of identified areas.
Families who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation. Families where their tenancy is at risk.	Support to sustain their tenancy or source suitable accommodation.

This information will be processed under strict protocols in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and other relevant legislation. Information will be held securely, processed under the legal obligations to participate in the Supporting Families Programme.

The lawful basis we rely on

All information will be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) legislation:

to comply with a legal obligation or statutory function
for public tasks
substantial public interest.

We're required by law to provide Supporting Families programme under:

Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Children Act 1989 and 2004
Welfare Reform Act 2012
Localism Act 2011
Local Government Act 1972
and other relevant legislation.

We are always committed to protect your privacy and will only use information ethically and lawfully in accordance with the relevant legislation.

More information on the lawful basis can be seen on the ICO website.

Sharing your information with other parties

Local Authorities and their relevant partner organisations can deal with families as a whole, rather than responding to each problem, or person separately using a multi-agency approach by sharing information to allow joined up working across the area.

The Council will share information hold about you with other organisations where the law allows it, or if we have a legal obligation to do so, such as:

Local Authorities
Education Providers
Probation Services
Fire And Rescue Services
Youth Offending Team
Police
Health Providers (NHS Services & NHS Trusts)
Department For Work & Pensions
Other Government Departments

The list of public bodies is not an exhaustive list.

This might include records in relation to your social care, any involvement with the police, courts and probation, aspects relating to your employment, anti-social behaviour, violence in the home, substance misuse, educational attendance and behaviour, vulnerable children, and health issues.

If you contact us to report concerns about a family, we may share your information with the family you have contacted us about. If you would prefer your details were not shared, please tell us.

There may be some circumstances where we’ll need to share information about you without your consent. For example, to prevent or detect a crime, or to comply with our obligations under safeguarding laws. In all cases, all partner organisations undergo thorough due diligence to assure security standards are met as required under current UK Data Protection Law.

How long your information will be kept

We will keep your record in accordance with national guidance and the Council retention schedule which we will review and update accordingly with our Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) and any other programme specific policies, after which records and confidential information are securely destroyed.

Your information rights?

You have various rights around the data we hold about you. These are outlined in the main Privacy Notice.

How you can contact us and make a complaint

For general enquiries regarding Supporting Families, please contact: 0161 253 6757

Any requests or complaints about your data should be submitted to the Data Protection Officer:

Email: pi.sdu@bury.gov.uk,
Telephone: 0161 253 6757,
Post: Bury Supporting Families Team, First Floor, 3 Knowsley Place, Duke Street, Bury BL9 0SW.

If you are still not satisfied with the Council’s response to any request to exercise your individual rights or if you believe that the Council is not processing your personal data in accordance with the law, you can contact the Information Commissioners’ Office.

We are the registered Data Controller with the Information Commissioner's Office. The registration number is Z5720815

Changes in your circumstances

You should notify us immediately if there are any changes in your circumstances and personal details for us to maintain an accurate and up to date record of your information.