At your first contact with ASSIST, your Advocacy Worker will have told you how we use and share any information you give us. Any information we share with other agencies is done sensitively, with the aim of reducing your risk and increasing your safety.
By agreeing to our service, you are giving permission for us to use and share your information. How we do this is set out below.
What ASSIST can do with the information you share with us:
- ASSIST will process and store your information confidentially.
- Any information ASSIST holds about you or your court case is stored electronically and can only be accessed by ASSIST staff.
- You have a right to access the information we (or any council department) holds on you. You can get more information about this here: Subject Access Request
- ASSIST will only speak with you, unless you give permission for us to speak to someone else e.g. a family member.
- ASSIST shares information with other agencies to highlight domestic abuse risk and help increase your safety. This could be with the Police, Procurator Fiscal Service, Social Work or any other relevant agency. We will always try to tell you what information we are sharing, who we are sharing it with, why we are sharing it and what might happen by sharing it.
- If ASSIST believes that there is a risk to you, or anyone else, we have a duty to share this information, even if you do not give permission. This could be with the Police, Social Work or any other relevant agency.
- ASSIST may share information with Police Scotland about your (ex) partner's abusive behaviour and any other criminal activity they may be involved in. This is done sensitively and in a way that does not put you at risk.
- ASSIST can share information on your behalf with the Procurator Fiscal Service, to let them know your views about the court case. We will only do this with your permission.
- ASSIST can speak to other agencies on your behalf, if you give permission for us to do this.
- People who the Police, or other agencies, believe to be at high risk of further harm, can be referred to a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). MARAC is a meeting where a range of agencies discuss this risk and options that might make that person safer. If your case is referred to MARAC, we will let you know. You do not attend the meeting, but ASSIST will be there as your Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate (IDAA). This means that we can be your voice at the meeting and share your views about your risk and safety, whatever these might be.
- If you decide that you do no longer want ASSIST's support, please let us know and we will stop contacting you.
- With your permission, ASSIST may use details of your situation to help highlight any issues to partner agencies or funders. Any information used in this way will be anonymised and personal details removed.
- We might contact you after our support has ended to ask if you would be willing to take part in research or an evaluation of our service. We will only put your name forward for further contact if you agree to us doing this.
- ASSIST is part of Glasgow City Council and our full privacy policy is available on their website ASSIST Privacy Policy
- You have a right to make a complaint about ASSIST (or any council service) at any time Complaints
If you have any questions about how we hold and share your information, please speak to your Advocacy Worker.
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