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Privacy notice for the safeguarding in Wales stakeholder engagement survey.

First published:
15 May 2025
Last updated:

What the survey involves

The Welsh Government are conducting a survey to gather your views regarding recommendation 13 from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report regarding mandatory reporting. We are exploring the implications of placing mandatory reporting duties or alternative measures on individuals who work with children and adults who may be at risk.

Our initial consultation (under the Social Care Bill) provided a wide range of stakeholder views which subsequently resulted in the requirement for further exploration. As part of our ongoing work, we need to establish what is currently happening with our existing duties to report children and adults at risk, particularly focusing on the 'relevant partners' of local authorities.

We also seek your views regarding the current code of safeguarding practice. The code of safeguarding practice is non-statutory guidance for all those individuals, groups and organisations offering activities or services to children and adults in Wales. The code of safeguarding practice sets out Welsh Government expectations in relation to safeguarding arrangements.

The survey will inform our policy workstream to drive improvement in the current safeguarding arrangements in Wales and make changes where necessary.

What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information?

Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’. 

You will be asked within the survey to provide personal data relating to:

  • your name
  • your email address

We will also ask you what organisation you work for. This data will only be asked of you if you want to take part in further engagement with this work.

Upon receipt of the information, the Welsh Government becomes the data controller for it.

What is the lawful basis for using your data?

The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task. That is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.

Participation is completely voluntary. Research studies such as this are important for the Welsh Government to collect information and actionable evidence about its ability to deliver government priorities. The information collected in this research, for example, might be used to: 

  • highlight your views and experiences of safeguarding arrangements and the effectiveness of those arrangements
  • highlight whether the governance arrangements placed upon the National Independent Safeguarding Board and the Regional Safeguarding Boards are effective in protecting children and adults at risk
  • inform our policy workstream to drive improvement in the quality and consistency safeguarding arrangements in Wales

How secure is your personal data?

Personal information provided to Welsh Government is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of Welsh Government officials working on this project. Welsh Government will only use this data for research purposes and to make recommendations to Welsh Ministers.

The data from the survey will be collated by Welsh Government using Smart Survey. After the survey is closed, the data will be transferred from Smart Survey to our secure server. The data will be analysed by Welsh Government officials.

All data gathered through this research will be reported in an anonymised format. It will not contain your contact details and any identifiable information in open-ended answers will be removed. The Safeguarding and Advocacy Team will use the information gathered to produce an internal report that will be used to make recommendations to the Welsh Ministers.

Please note, your personal data will be kept to allow Welsh Government to recontact you for additional information if you agree to it. This data will be kept confidential, with limited access.

How long do we keep your personal data?

The survey will be open for 4 weeks. The data provided when you take part in the survey will be held on Smart Survey servers for the 4 weeks the survey is open, as well as an additional week for the data to be transferred to Welsh Government’s secure servers. After the transfer, your data on Smart Survey will be deleted.

Welsh Government will hold the data for 12 months after it is transferred. This is to analyse the data, as well as conduct follow-up conversations with you if you have agreed to them. After the work is completed, the data will be deleted, however the report (which will be anonymised) will be kept.

Individual rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this project, you have the right: 

  • to access a copy of your own data
  • for us to rectify inaccuracies in that data
  • to object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances)
  • for your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances)
  • to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection

Contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office:

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.gov.uk 

Further information

If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact:

The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:

Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Email: dataprotectionofficer@gov.wales