Best Start in Life (BSIL)

Who we are

Hampshire County Council (“we”, “us”) is the data controller for the personal information we collect and use about you and your family as part of our Best Start in Life (BSIL) services

What this notice covers

This privacy notice explains how we collect, use, store and share personal information when you access, are referred into, or are supported by BSIL services, including:

• information you give us directly (e.g., forms, phone calls, emails, appointments)
• information provided by professionals (e.g., health, education, social care)
• information generated through our work with you (e.g., assessments, support plans, notes)

What information we may collect

We collect information that is necessary and proportionate to deliver BSIL services. This may include:

• About parents/carers and children
• Names, dates of birth, gender
• Contact details (address, phone, email)
• Family composition / household members
• NHS number and/or Unique Pupil Number (where relevant and lawful)
• Language and communication needs, accessibility requirements
• Early years / education details (e.g., setting attended, funded entitlement status, attendance)
• Special category (sensitive) information (where needed)
• Health information (e.g., pregnancy, birth outcomes, development, disability, immunisations, health visiting needs)
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) information
• Racial or ethnic origin (for equality monitoring and to ensure services are accessible)
• Information about safeguarding concerns or vulnerabilities (where relevant)

How we collect your information

We may collect information from:

• you (parents/carers) and, where appropriate, directly from young people
• professionals working with you (e.g., health visiting, midwifery, GP, schools, early years settings, social care, voluntary and community organisations)
• other council departments where relevant (e.g., benefits/eligibility teams)
• national or local systems where there is a lawful basis (e.g., education or health partners)

Why we use your information (purposes)

We use your information to:

• understand needs and provide BSIL support, advice and interventions
• coordinate services and reduce the need for families to repeat information
• assess eligibility for specific support (e.g., funded childcare, targeted programmes)
• make and receive referrals (with appropriate safeguards)
• keep children and families safe and respond to safeguarding concerns
• monitor service delivery, performance and outcomes
• plan and improve services, including understanding local need
• meet our legal duties and respond to statutory returns, audits, inspections and complaints.

Our lawful bases for processing

Under the UK GDPR, we must have a lawful basis to use your personal information. The BSIL service typically relies on:

For the processing of personal information (UK GDPR Article 6)

• Article 6(1)(e) Public task – where processing is necessary to perform a task in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority
• Article 9(2)(g) – Necessary for reasons of substantial public interest on the basis of Union or Member State law which is proportionate to the aim pursued and which contains appropriate safeguarding measures
• Sch.1, Pt.2, paragraph 6 – Substantial public interest conditions, for processing under the Data Protection Act 2018

These are supported by the Child Care Act 2006 - Section 3.

Who we share information with

We only share information where it is necessary, lawful, and proportionate. Depending on your circumstances, we may share relevant information with:

• NHS partners (e.g., health visitors, midwives, GPs, community services)
• Early years settings, schools and education services
• Children’s Social Care / Early Help / SEND teams (within the council)
• Commissioned or partner organisations delivering BSIL services (e.g., Family Hub provider, VCS partners)
• Housing, benefits, or other council teams where relevant to support you
• Police and other safeguarding partners where there are child protection or public safety concerns

Safeguarding

If we believe a child or adult is at risk of significant harm, we may share information without consent where lawful and necessary to protect someone’s vital interests or to perform our safeguarding duties.

Data processors

Some organisations process data on our behalf.

Details around services and these organisation can be found on the Best Start in Life web pages:
Best Start in Life Services in Hampshire
BSFH Weekly Activities Timetable
BSFH Wider Community Offers

International transfers

Your information is usually stored in the UK. Where a system supplier stores data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (e.g., adequacy regulations or standard contractual clauses).

How long we keep your information

We keep information in line with our records retention schedule.

How we keep your information secure

We use a range of security measures to protect your information, including:

• access controls (only staff who need to see information can access it)
• staff training and confidentiality requirements
• secure systems and encryption (where appropriate)
• data sharing agreements and contractual controls with partners
• monitoring, auditing and incident management processes

Your data protection rights

You have rights under data protection law, including the right to:

• access a copy of your information
• rectify inaccurate or incomplete information
• erase information (in some circumstances)
• restrict processing (in some circumstances)
• object to processing based on public task/legitimate interests (in some circumstances)

These rights are not absolute, and sometimes we may lawfully refuse a request (e.g., where information is needed for safeguarding, legal obligations, or the public task).

Further information

The above information is the specific privacy notice for this service. For more information about your rights in relation to your personal data, see the County Council’s general privacy notice.

You have some legal rights in respect of the personal information we collect from you. See our Data Protection page for further details.

You can contact the County Council’s Data Protection Officer by email [email protected].

If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, you should raise your concern with us in the first instance or directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office.