Last Updated May 2018.
Introduction
It is important that you know exactly what we do with the personal information that you, your family members or others provide us with, why we gather it and how we store it. We are obliged under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 to inform you fully on these matters.
The information we collect about you
The information about you that we hold can include:
- Your name, address and other contact details
- Contact information on your next of kin and other family members
- Contact information of your doctor(s) and other relevant health professionals.
- Information to access your home including alarm codes, key box codes etc.
- Information on your lifestyle, hobbies and interests, eating and sleeping habits
- Medical background, medication, mobility and related information
- Information obtained from HSE related to a Home Care Package.
When we collect your information and legal basis
Primarily we collect your information during the Care Consultation that our Care Manager conducts in order to assess your homecare needs, before we commence delivery of the service. This information will be updated regularly as the need arises. We may also receive information about you from HSE, if you are in receipt of a HSE-funded homecare.
The legal basis on which your personal data is gathered by us is called “Legitimate Interest”: in other words we need the data in order to provide you with a homecare service
How we use and store your information
We use your personal data in order to write a care plan which is a prerequisite for the provision of your homecare service. Your care plan is stored electronically on our IT system and a paper version is stored in a physical file which is securely stored in our offices.
Furthermore, your Care Plan and other data related to the provision of homecare is stored in paper form in the Client Journal (folder) which is normally kept in your home. The Client Journal also contains Care Logs which are updated at the end of each visit. Completed Care Logs are periodically removed from the Journal and stored in your paper file at our office.
Who we share your information with
We share your Care Plan electronically with your Carers (our employees). Furthermore, the Care Plan can be shared with HSE staff including Public Health Nurses if you are in receipt of a Home Care Package. The Care Plan is password protected before being emailed to any third party including our Carers.
How long we hold your data
We are currently required by HSE to store client data for 8 years after we have finished providing homecare to you. We apply this guideline to our private clients also.
Your right to object, request copies of your data and implications of not providing your data
Under GDPR you have certain rights regarding your data. For example, you have the right to object to us holding your personal data, also you have the right to see copies of all data that we hold that relates to you.
If you do not provide us with information or if you request that we stop holding information about you, we may not be able to continue providing you with a homecare service.
Questions and further information
If you have any questions related to the data we hold or you think we may hold about you, please contact us.