Armed Forces Outreach Service Privacy Notice
Who we are and what we do
The Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS) is a local authority and registered housing provider partnership. The partnership is between three local authorities (Gateshead Council, Newcastle upon Tyne Council and Durham Council) and Believe Housing. Gateshead Council is the lead organisation.
AFOS is based at each Civic Centre in Gateshead Council, Durham County Council, Newcastle City Council and Believe Housing at Spectrum Business Park, Seaham.
AFOS provide a single point of contact for those due to be discharged from the armed forces, veterans, serving reservists and all family members. Based within a housing setting, the service provides direct housing advice and support but support and advice can also be provided on a range of issues including benefits, debt, pensions, substance misuse, accessing employment, education, accessing community groups and any aspects of the general transition into civilian life. Advice and support is provided directly or through partnership work and signposting to more specialist agencies.
This privacy notice provides specific information about AFOS process your personal data. It is an addition to the information contained in our Corporate Privacy Notice.
What type of information is collected about you
In order to provide you with services which are relevant to your needs, AFOS will collect and hold information about you. This may include:
- name
- address
- email address
- phone number
- date of birth
- age
- National Insurance Number
- gender
- military service details
- bank statements (if applying for SSAFA funds)
- financial details - Incomings/outgoings, debts/arrears, pensions
We may collect and hold the following special category (sensitive) data:
- sexual orientation
- religion
How we collect information about you
Most of the information we hold about you will come from you as an individual.
Information can be collected by paper referral forms, online contact through the website, phone calls, face to face meetings and email.
Why we need your information
Our purpose for collecting your personal data is to assist you to access social housing or other services as outlined in your consent form or assist you to obtain charitable funding.
We collect data to monitor trends in our service but also so we can feed this back to our partners and grant providers. This data is anonymised.
The legal basis for us to process your information
Data Protection Legislation sets out the lawful basis for processing personal data.
The lawful basis for our processing is:
- Article 6 (1) (a) - Consent
And where we process special categories (sensitive) of personal information about you, the lawful basis for our processing is:
- Article 9 (2) (a) - Explicit consent
Who your information can be shared with
Our Corporate Privacy Notice. sets out the general types of information sharing that the Council carries out to fulfil statutory obligations, legal requirements and service delivery.
We will only share your information with your consent, unless required by law, for example, for safeguarding or law enforcement purposes.
Your information may be shared with the following organisations:
- Durham County Council
- Newcastle City Council
- Believe Housing
- SSAFA
- DWP
- RBL
- Probation Service
- Launchpad - Avondale House and Holly Acre House
- Supported Housing Schemes
- Bibby House
- OP Fortitude
- Op Courage (NHS services)
If we wish to share your information with other council services or third parties for purposes outside of those listed above we will also ask for your permission.
How long we will keep your information
We keep your information for as long as we need in order to provide the services to you. This will differ depending on the services you receive. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We have Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR) which sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information about this please contact Supported Housing Manager at [email protected] or on 0191 433 5311.
Where your information is held
The data is held on a secure central recording system.
How you can update your information
The accuracy of your information is important to us to be able to provide relevant services more quickly. If you change your address or email address, or if any of your circumstances change or any of the other information we hold is out of date, please contact your assigned outreach worker.
Your information rights
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Marketing and e-newsletters
Please see our email marketing privacy notice.
Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Protecting your information
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Data Protection Officer
Data Protection Officer
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 3000
Information Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body for upholding information rights. Visit their website (opens new window) to find out more about your rights under Data Protection law, and what to expect from us.
For privacy practices or data protection rights concerns, contact the Information Commissioner's Office:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745
ICO - Make a complaint (opens new window)