Workshop Leader: Damien Welfare, barrister at 2-3 Gray's Inn Square. Training courses in London.

The government sees data sharing as an important tool to improve and personalise public services, fight crime, and tackle benefit fraud. Public bodies face regular dilemmas over whether to share data, to what extent, with whom, in what circumstances, and subject to what safeguards.

This Workshop examines the key principles involved including:

• What are the benefits of data sharing, and how much should you share the personal data you hold?

• What are the challenges in terms of maintaining public trust, and respecting personal privacy?

• What powers exist to share data?

• What are the conditions under which data may be shared? What restrictions exist, and which exemptions to them may apply?

• What do you tell those whose data are shared, and how do you respond to subject access requests?

• How do you write your own code of practice, and what should it contain?

• What other arrangements need to be in place before you share data?

This session enables those attending to understand how to approach the sharing of data in the public sector. It includes discussion of a number of practical ‘real life' examples and the legal issues involved.

Course content, topics covered include:

• Powers to share data

• Relevant Data Protection Principles and data processing conditions

• Exemptions from the non-disclosure provisions

• Responding to subject access requests

• Restricting wider disclosure

• The Framework Code of Practice on data sharing

• Producing a data sharing code

• Creating and managing a data sharing arrangement

• The Data Sharing Review, and policy developments

• New penalties for breach of the data protection principles

• Practical case studies for discussion

About the Workshop Leader
Damien Welfare is a barrister at 2-3 Gray's Inn Square. He came to the Bar in 2001 after a career in Local Government. He specialises in Freedom of Information, Data Protection and the Environmental Information Regulations.

He has appeared in the Information Tribunal, advises on all aspects of information law, and speaks and writes regularly on Information law matters.

Damien is a member of the Editorial Board of Freedom of Information Journal.

Who should attend:
Data Protection Officers, Information Officers, Environmental Information Officers, Information Managers, Freedom of Information Officers, Records Management Officers, Information Lawyers, Environmental Lawyers, Legal Advisors, Consultants and advisors to private sector companies providing public services or exercising public functions.

Date and Location:
London Monday, 9th March 2009
London Monday, 18th May 2009
London Tuesday, 3rd November 2009

Timing:
Short Day - 10.00am to 4pm ( lunch included )
There will be plenty of opportunity for questions

CPD:
This course is accredited by the Law Society with 5 CPD

How Much?

£395 plus VAT ( £454.25 ). Discount: 15% discount for second delegate, 20% discount for third and subsequent delegates.

Further Information

Tel: +44 (0)845-226 5723
Fax: +44 (0)870-137 7871