Data Protection/Liaison Officers

In order to ensure that personal information is exchanged in the most efficient, effective and safe manner, Statutory Organisations will have a designate Responsible Officer. In selecting/appointing such officers Statutory Organisations must identify the minimum number of officers needed in order to retain operational effectiveness, dependent on the size and structure of the organisation.

These Officers should have responsibility for:

• data protection (subject access)
• promoting good data quality
• confidentiality
• security of holding and the safe transmission of data
• compliance
• audit and monitoring
• complaints procedure (unless a separate internal procedure applies)

Where there is doubt as regards whether there is justification for disclosure of personal information, the safeguarding leads and the Data Protection/Liaison Officer of the relevant organisation should be consulted. In cases of doubt, legal advice should be obtained and in the event the disagreement cannot be resolved, use of sec 45 by the SAB should be considered.