Portsmouth City Council ("the Council", "we", "us") is the data controller for the personal information described in this notice. We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) (Registration Number Z5578313).
This privacy notice explains how Portsmouth City Council collects, uses, shares, stores and protects personal information relating to the Safe at Home Telecare service.
Who we are and how to contact us
Data Controller: Portsmouth City Council (Registration Number Z5578313)
Address: Civic Offices, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL
Data Protection Officer Email: DataProtection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Telephone: 023 9282 2251
If you have questions about this notice or want to exercise your data protection rights, contact the Data Protection Officer using the details above.
Who this notice applies to
This notice applies to:
- People receiving Safe at Home Telecare services
- People assessed for Telecare equipment and support
- Family members, carers and nominated responders connected to a Telecare service user
- Individuals involved in supporting Safe at Home customers
Joint Data Controllers
Portsmouth City Council's Safe at Home Service is delivered in partnership with Astraline Ltd.
Portsmouth City Council and Astraline Ltd act as Joint Data Controllers for personal information processed as part of the Safe at Home service.
Telecare equipment is connected to Astraline Ltd's monitoring centre. The monitoring centre accesses information recorded on the Council's Assisted Living Platform in order to assess emergencies, respond to alarm activations and manage incidents as quickly and effectively as possible.
The personal information we collect
We collect the personal information necessary to provide Telecare services and support.
This may include:
- Name, address and contact details
- Financial information required for payments
- Information relating to your living arrangements and accommodation
- Property type and ownership details
- Details of your GP and healthcare professionals
- Names and contact details of nominated responders or emergency contacts
- Information relating to formal and informal care arrangements
- Records of assessments, reviews and service visits
We may also collect information relating to:
- Physical and mental health
- Disabilities and long-term conditions
- Social care needs
- Risks identified during assessment
- Day-to-day activities and independent living needs
- Support plans and care arrangements
Special Category Data
The Safe at Home service processes special category personal data, including health information, disabilities, care needs and support requirements.
This information is only processed where the law permits and with appropriate safeguards in place.
Where we get your information from
We obtain information:
- Directly from you during assessments, reviews and service delivery
- From family members, carers and nominated responders where appropriate
- From health and social care professionals involved in your support
- From Adult Social Care services
- From partner organisations involved in delivering Telecare services
Information gathered during assessments is securely recorded and stored on Umo, the Council's Assisted Living Platform used for Telecare monitoring and management.
How we use your information and our lawful bases
We use personal information to:
- Assess your suitability for Telecare services
- Identify risks and support needs
- Recommend, install and maintain Telecare equipment
- Deliver Safe at Home services
- Monitor alarm activations and emergency situations
- Support independent living and wellbeing
- Arrange assessments, reviews and engineering visits
- Maintain accurate records relating to your support needs
- Work with health and social care professionals involved in your care
- Manage service payments and charges
Lawful Bases under UK GDPR
The Safe at Home service processes information under the following lawful bases:
- Public task – to deliver services under powers provided by the Care Act 2014
- Contract – to provide Telecare equipment and monitoring services in accordance with service agreements
Special Category Data (Article 9 UK GDPR)
Where special category information is processed, the Council relies on conditions including:
- Health or social care purposes
- Provision and management of health and social care systems and services
- Safeguarding of adults at risk
- Social protection functions
Who we share your information with
We may share information where necessary and lawful with:
- Astraline Ltd Monitoring Centre
- Umo, which provides the Assisted Living Platform and related system support
- Portsmouth City Council employees responsible for installing, maintaining and removing Telecare equipment
- Portsmouth City Council staff directly involved in your case
- Adult Social Care staff directly involved in your care
- Healthcare professionals involved in supporting you
- Carers, support workers and personal assistants directly involved in your care
- Housing associations, landlords, scheme managers and care home managers where permissions are required to install equipment
- Community alarm providers where services need to be disconnected or replaced
- Named responders, emergency contacts and interested parties authorised by you
- Emergency services, including the police, fire and ambulance services, where required
Information is only shared where necessary to provide services, protect your wellbeing, respond to emergencies or fulfil legal obligations.
We do not share personal information for third-party marketing purposes.
How long we keep your information
Personal information is retained while you are receiving the Safe at Home Telecare service.
When the service ends, your information will be archived and retained securely for six years in accordance with Section 5 of the Limitation Act.
Information will then be securely deleted in accordance with the Council's retention requirements.
How we keep your information secure
Technical and organisational measures are used to protect personal information, including:
- Access controls and permissions
- Staff training and awareness
- Secure storage and IT systems
- Regular monitoring and validation processes
- Information security and data protection policies
- Contractual controls with suppliers and partner organisations
Anyone processing personal information on behalf of Portsmouth City Council is required to do so securely and only for authorised purposes.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you may have the right to:
- Access your personal information (Subject Access Request)
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request erasure in limited circumstances
- Request restriction of processing
- Object to processing in certain circumstances
- Request data portability in limited circumstances
- Withdraw consent where consent is relied upon
- Exercise rights relating to automated decision-making and profiling
Right to object
You have the right to object to processing carried out under public task or legitimate interests in certain circumstances. Requests can be made by contacting the Data Protection Officer.
How to exercise your rights
You have the right to know whether Portsmouth City Council holds personal information about you.
Requests can be made by contacting the Data Protection Officer or by visiting the Council's subject access request and Freedom of Information pages.
You will usually be entitled to access your personal information, although access may be restricted where information relates to other individuals or where a legal exemption applies.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how your personal information has been used, please contact the Data Protection Officer in the first instance.
If you remain dissatisfied, you may complain to:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Links to other websites
The Council's website may contain links to other websites. This privacy notice does not cover those websites. Please read the privacy notices published on any external sites you visit.
Changes to this privacy notice
This privacy notice was last reviewed on 21 August 2025.