CuddyQS Data Protection Policy

 

1.0 Guideline Statement

Cuddy QS is required under the Data Protection Acts to ensure the security and confidentiality of the personal data it processes. Personal data is one of our most important assets and each one of us has a responsibility to ensure the security of this information.

Accurate, timely, relevant and properly protected personal data is essential to the successful operation of Cuddy QS in the provision of services to our clients, and the public at large.

2.0 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide a concise policy statement regarding the Data Protection obligations of CuddyQS. This includes obligations in dealing with personal data, in order to ensure that the organisation complies with
the requirements of the relevant Irish legislation, namely the Irish Data Protection Act (1988), the Irish Data Protection (Amendment) Act (2003) And The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Data protection includes the safeguarding of the privacy rights of individuals in relation to the processing of their personal data. People supply information about themselves to Cuddy QS. Data protection law places obligations on us as ‘controllers’, and on all staff who access, keep, record or use that personal data.

3.0 Rationale

CuddyQS must comply with the Data Protection principles set out in the relevant legislation. This Policy applies to all Personal Data collected, processed and stored by Cuddy QS in relation to its staff, service providers and clients
in the course of its activities. Cuddy QS makes no distinction between the rights of Data Subjects who are employees, and those who are not. All are treated equally under this Policy.

4.0 Scope

The policy covers both personal and sensitive personal data held in relation to data subjects by CuddyQS. The policy applies equally to personal data
held in manual and automated form.

All Personal and Sensitive Personal Data will be treated with equal care by Cuddy QS. Both categories will be equally referred-to as Personal Data in this policy, unless specifically stated otherwise.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the associated policies and procedures;

• Data Subject Rights recommendations
• Data Retention Policy
• Data Retention Periods List
• Data Breach Management Procedure

CuddyQS as a Data Controller:

In the course of its daily organisational activities, Cuddy QS acquires, processes and stores personal data in relation to:

• Employees of CuddyQS
• Customers of CuddyQS
• Third party service providers engaged by CuddyQS

In accordance with the Irish Data Protection legislation and the GDPR, this data must be acquired and managed fairly. Not all staff members will be expected to be experts in Data Protection legislation, however, CuddyQS is committed to ensuring that its staff have sufficient awareness of the legislation in order to be able to anticipate and identify a Data Protection issue, should one arise. In such circumstances, staff must ensure that the Data Protection Officer or designated individual is informed in order that appropriate corrective action is taken.

Due to the nature of the services provided by CuddyQS, there is regular and active exchange of personal data between CuddyQS and its’ Data Subjects.

In addition, CuddyQS exchanges personal data with Data Processors on the Data Subjects’ behalf. This is consistent with CuddyQS’s obligations under the terms of its’ contract with its’ Data Processors.

This policy provides the guidelines for this exchange of information, as well as the procedure to follow in the event that a CuddyQS staff member is unsure whether such data can be disclosed.

In general terms, the staff member should consult with the Data Protection Officer or designated individual to seek clarification.

Data Subject Rights

Any formal, written request by a Data Subject to exercise their rights will be referred, as soon as possible, to the Data Protection Officer or designated individual, and will be processed as soon as possible in accordance with the Data Subject Rights policy and procedure.

Data Subject Access Requests

As part of the day-to-day operation of the organisation, CuddyQS’s staff engage in active and regular exchanges of information with Data Subjects. Where a formal request is submitted by a Data Subject in relation to the data held by Cuddy QS, such a request gives rise to access rights in favour of the Data Subject.

There are specific time-lines within which CuddyQS must respond to the Data Subject, depending on the nature and extent of the request. These are outlined in the Subject Access Request process document.

Cuddy QS’s staff will ensure that, where necessary, such requests are forwarded to the Data Protection Officer in a timely manner, and they are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible, but within not more than 40 days from receipt of the request.

It is intended that by complying with these guidelines, CuddyQS will adhere to best practice regarding the applicable Data Protection legislation.

Third-Party processors

In the course of its role as Data Controller, Cuddy QS engages a number of Data Processors to process Personal Data on its behalf. In each case, a formal, written contract is in place with the Processor, outlining their obligations in relation to the Personal Data, the specific purpose or purposes for which they are engaged, and the understanding that they will process the data in compliance with the Irish Data Protection legislation.

The Data Protection Principles

The following key principles are enshrined in the Irish legislation and the GDPR and are fundamental to Cuddy QS’s Data Protection policy.

In its capacity as Data Controller, Cuddy QS ensures that all data shall:

1. Be obtained and processed fairly and lawfully.
For data to be obtained fairly, the data subject will, at the time the data are being collected, be made aware of:
• The identity of the Data Controller – Cuddy QS
• The purpose(s) for which the data is being collected
• The person(s) to whom the data may be disclosed by the Data Controller
• Any other information that is necessary so that the processing may be fair.

CuddyQS will meet this obligation in the following way.
• Where possible, the informed consent of the Data Subject will be sought before their data is processed;
• Where it is not possible to seek consent,
Cuddy QS
will ensure that collection of the data is justified under one of the other lawful processing conditions – legal obligation, contractual necessity, etc.;
• Where
Cuddy QS
intends to record activity on CCTV or video, a Fair Processing Notice will be posted in full view;
• Processing of the personal data will be carried out only as part of Cuddy QS’s
lawful activities, and [the Company]will safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Data Subject;
• The Data Subject’s data will not be disclosed to a third party other than to a party contracted to Cuddy QS
and operating on its behalf.

2. Be obtained only for one or more specified, legitimate purposes.
CuddyQS will obtain data for purposes which are specific, lawful and clearly stated. A Data Subject will have the right to question the purpose(s) for which CuddyQS holds their data, and CuddyQS will be able to clearly state that purpose or purposes.

3. Not be further processed in a manner incompatible with the specified purpose(s).

Any use of the data by Cuddy QS will be compatible with the purposes for which the data was acquired.

4. Be kept safe and secure.
CuddyQS will employ high standards of security in order to protect the personal data under its care. Appropriate security measures will be taken to protect against unauthorised access to, or alteration, destruction or disclosure of any personal data held by CuddyQS in its capacity as Data Controller.
Access to and management of staff and customer records is limited to those staff members who have appropriate authorisation and password access.

5. Be kept accurate, complete and up-to-date where necessary.
Cuddy QS will:
• ensure that administrative and IT validation processes are in place to conduct regular assessments of data accuracy;
• conduct periodic reviews and audits to ensure that relevant data is kept accurate and up-to-date. [The Company]
conducts a review of sample data every six months to ensure accuracy; Staff contact details and details on next-of-kin are reviewed and updated every two years.
• conduct regular assessments in order to establish the need to keep certain Personal Data.

6. Be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose(s) for which the data were collected and processed.
CuddyQS will ensure that the data it processes in relation to Data Subjects are relevant to the purposes for which those data are collected. Data which are not relevant to such processing will not be acquired or maintained.

7. Not be kept for longer than is necessary to satisfy the specified purpose(s).
CuddyQS has identified an extensive retention matrix of data categories, with reference to the appropriate data retention period for each category. The matrix applies to data in both a manual and automated format.
Once the respective retention period has elapsed, CuddyQS undertakes to destroy, erase or otherwise put this data beyond use as per the Data Retention policy

8. Be managed and stored in such a manner that, in the event a Data Subject submits a valid Subject Access Request seeking a copy of their Personal Data, this data can be readily retrieved and provided to them.
CuddyQS has implemented a Subject Access Request procedure by which to manage such requests in an efficient and timely manner, within the timelines stipulated in the legislation.

As a Data Controller, CuddyQS ensures that any entity which processes Personal Data on its behalf (a Data Processor) does so in a manner compliant with the Data Protection legislation.
Failure of a Data Processor to manage Cuddy QS’s data in a compliant manner will be viewed as a breach of contract, and will be pursued through the courts.
Failure of Cuddy QS’s staff to process Personal Data in compliance with this policy may result in disciplinary proceedings.

5.0 Definitions

Definitions

For the avoidance of doubt, and for consistency in terminology, the following definitions will apply within this Policy.

Data
This includes both automated and manual data. Automated data means data held on computer, or stored with the intention that it is processed on computer. Manual data means data that is processed as part of a relevant filing system, or which is stored with the intention that it forms part of a relevant filing system.

Personal Data
Information which relates to a living individual, who can be identified either directly from that data, or indirectly in conjunction with other data which is likely to come into the legitimate possession of the Data Controller. (if in doubt, CuddyQS refers to the definition issued by the Article 29 Working Party, and updated from time to time).

Sensitive Personal Data
A particular category of Personal data, relating to: Racial or Ethnic Origin, Political Opinions, Religious, Ideological or Philosophical beliefs, Trade Union membership, Information relating to mental or physical health, information in relation to one’s Sexual Orientation, information in relation to commission of a crime and information relating to conviction for a criminal offence.

Data Controller
A person or entity who, either alone, or with others, controls the content and use of Personal Data by determining the purposes and means by which that Personal Data is processed.

Data Subject
A living individual who is the subject of the Personal Data, ie: to whom the data relates either directly or indirectly.

Data Processor
A person or entity who processes Personal Data on behalf of a Data Controller on the basis of a formal, written contract, but who is not an employee of the Data Controller, processing such Date in the course of his/her employment.

Data Protection Officer
A person appointed by CuddyQS to monitor compliance with the appropriate Data Protection legislation, to deal with Subject Access Requests, and to respond to Data Protection queries from staff members and service recipients.
Relevant Filing System
Any set of information in relation to living individuals which is not processed by means of equipment operating automatically (computers), and that is structured, either by reference to individuals, or by reference to criteria relating to individuals, in such a manner that specific information is readily retrievable.