Privacy notice

Who we are

Onwards Mentoring provides youth mentoring and non-school alternative provision support across Greater Manchester. For the personal information we control, Onwards Mentoring acts as the data controller. In some commissioned arrangements, the school, local authority or care provider may also be a controller and will have its own privacy information.

Information we may collect

Depending on the enquiry or referral, we may collect:

• professional contact details for referrers and members of the young person’s network;
• the young person’s identity, contact and education information;
• attendance, support needs, interests, strengths and agreed outcomes;
• safeguarding, health, disability, special educational needs, behaviour and risk information;
• session records, progress information, incidents and communications; and
• billing, commissioning and service-administration information.

Some referral information may be special category data or information about alleged or actual offending. This information receives additional protection and is handled only where an appropriate legal basis and condition apply.

Why we use personal information

We use information to assess suitability, plan and deliver safe support, communicate with professionals, monitor attendance and progress, manage safeguarding and risk, meet contractual and legal responsibilities, handle complaints and improve service quality.

We identify an appropriate lawful basis before using personal information. Depending on the circumstances, this may include contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests, vital interests or tasks carried out in the public interest. Additional conditions are considered where sensitive information is involved.

Who information may be shared with

Information is shared only where necessary and proportionate. This may include the commissioning school, local authority or care provider; social care; education and health professionals; safeguarding partners; emergency services; regulators; insurers; professional advisers; and carefully selected service providers supporting secure administration.

We may share information without consent where necessary to protect a child or another person, comply with a legal duty, prevent or detect crime, or respond to an emergency.

Retention and security

We use proportionate organisational and technical measures to protect information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration or disclosure. Access is limited to people who need the information for their role.

Information is kept only for as long as necessary for safeguarding, contractual, legal, insurance and service-delivery purposes. Retention periods are reviewed and records are securely deleted or destroyed when no longer required.

Your data-protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access information, request correction or deletion, restrict or object to its use, and receive certain information in a portable form. You may also complain about how information is used.

To make a request, email referrals@onwardsmentoring.com. We may need to confirm your identity. You can also raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Website enquiries and cookies

The website’s referral-request form prepares an email in the visitor’s own email application. The website does not itself store the form contents. Visitors should not enter a young person’s name, safeguarding details or confidential records into this initial request.

With your permission, we use Google Analytics to understand website visits and how visitors use our pages. Google may receive technical information such as device and browser details, IP address and page activity, and may process information outside the UK under its applicable transfer safeguards. Analytics cookies (_ga and _ga_*) can remain for up to two years. We do not use advertising features. Analytics is switched off until you accept it. You can reject analytics or change your choice at any time using “Cookie settings” in the footer. Our site remembers your choice on this device for six months. Our hosting service may also use technology strictly necessary for security and reliable operation.

Read more about Google’s privacy practices and Google Analytics data use. Please do not include confidential or identifying information about a young person in website enquiries.