The new guidance addresses concerns from organisations and frontline workers that may be scared to share information for fear of falling foul of data protection law. The need to improve data sharing practices has been highlighted in recent serious case reviews in the UK where children have died or been seriously harmed through abuse or neglect. Poor information-sharing among organisations and agencies was identified as one of the factors contributing to failures to protect the children.
The guide is for all people who are involved in safeguarding children: at all levels and in all sectors in the UK. The steps are:
- Step 1: Be clear about how data protection can help you share information to safeguard a child.
- Step 2: Identify your objective for sharing information, and share the information you need to, in order to safeguard a child.
- Step 3: Develop clear and secure policies and systems for sharing information.
- Step 4: Be clear about transparency and individual rights.
- Step 5: Assess the risks and share as needed.
- Step 6: Enter into a data sharing agreement.
- Step 7: Follow the data protection principles.
- Step 8: Share information using the right lawful basis.
- Step 9: Share information in an emergency.
- Step 10: Read our data sharing code of practice.
Full guidance:ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
The ICO have published a set of marketing materials to promote the benefits of sharing data to protect children and young people from harm: ICO: Think. Check. Share. Campaign.
Data Protection Education works with a number of schools in a DPO role providing help, advice and guidance on data protection, where the above ten steps are the basis of our work when we meet with schools, both online and in person. Our Knowledge Bank platform provides policy templates and guidance, with a support ticketing service from our legal team. For more information email