Data Protection - Employer's Responsibilities?

[Mabelcat]

If a person is working for a Civil Service department - regularly dealing with members of the public - what Data Protection training should they have been given by the employer? If any?

[sandbach99]

Most Civil Servants have to sign the Official Secets Act , which means you do not talk or write about anything you see in the course of your work to anybody.

Having said that the computerisation of records has made it a lot easier to obtain information which you should not be able to access.

I was a Civil Servant for 20+years, starting with paper records only, I left over 5 years ago and the amount of information I had access to when I ceased was unbelievable and there were hardly any checks on reasons for access.

I also have concerns about staff giving out information that should be kept private, I know of someone whos' mother was going in a home where the Social Workers knew the mothers income, when asked where the info had come from she was told Pensions section of waht was the DHSS.
I myself have received letters from power companies offering free lightbulbs if I am on certain benefits as I am on a qualifying benefit I sent for them and received them, I was either trusted to be telling the truth or the power company obtained details they were not entitled to .

You obviously are concerned about something are you able to give more details?

[dzug]

They should have been given SOME training, even if only a half day course. Or given a video to watch.

Official Secets Act , which means you do not talk or write about anything you see in the course of your work to anybody.
a bit of an oversimplification even if you add 'unless they need to know and have the right to know'

And it applies to everyone, civil servants or not, whether they have signed it or not. All it does is draw attention to the law.