Information Governance and Data Protection in Health and Social Care

Learning outcomes

• Understand the fundamental principles of Information Governance and its critical importance in protecting personal data within health and social care settings, including the legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities involved.
• Apply the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 requirements in daily practice, understanding the role of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the consequences of non-compliance.
• Implement the seven key principles of UK GDPR - lawfulness, fairness and transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability - in all data processing activities.
• Manage individual rights under UK GDPR effectively, including processing Subject Access Requests (SARs), handling rectification and erasure requests, and ensuring transparency in data processing activities.
• Establish appropriate lawful bases for processing personal data and special category data, understanding when consent is required and how to obtain valid consent in compliance with legal requirements.
• Implement robust information security measures and risk management practices, including conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data.
• Navigate data sharing arrangements, third-party processing relationships, and international transfers whilst ensuring compliance with UK data protection legislation and maintaining appropriate safeguards.
• Respond effectively to personal data breaches and security incidents, understanding notification requirements to the ICO and affected individuals, and implementing lessons learned to prevent future incidents.
• Demonstrate accountability through appropriate governance structures, documentation, and record-keeping practices, including maintaining Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) and working effectively with Data Protection Officers.
• Apply Information Governance principles in practice whilst staying current with emerging trends including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity threats, and evolving legislation such as the Data Use and Access Bill.