Data Protection: Discussion Tool and Competency Assessment

In order to complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), care providers need to demonstrate that their staff have been trained and are competent in data security and protection.

The Institute of Public Care (IPC) at Oxford Brookes University in collaboration with the Better Security, Better Care programme researched the data security and protection training needs of small and medium sized care providers, including how well current training provision meets those needs, and how the training market could be developed. We explored what DSPT compliant training looks like, reviewed existing free training resources, developed a skills assessment for frontline staff, and explored how the Caldicott Guardian role is represented in the sector.

Our report – Training and Skills Development for the Care Sector – is published here.

We know that training and measuring competency in relation to data protection is one of the most challenging issues for care providers. The Better Security, Better Care programme is continuing to work on this, but in the meantime, together with IPC two learning tools have been developed, tested and published:

• a manager’s discussion tool
• an assessment quiz for frontline staff.

These tools can be used flexibly to help care providers to meet the DSPT requirement for 95% of frontline staff with access to personal data to be competent in data security and protection.

Manager’s Discussion Tool

This discussion tool is designed to help managers to have discussions with frontline staff to check their knowledge and provide evidence of their competence in data security and protection to meet requirement 3.2.1 of the DSPT.

Download the Managers’ Discussion Tool

Assessment Tool for Frontline Staff

This is a multiple-choice quiz for frontline staff. It can provide evidence that staff are competent in data security and protection and meet requirement 3.2.1 of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit by undertaking an assessment and gaining an 80% pass mark. Staff can complete and return the quiz to their manager who can then use it as evidence for the DSPT.

Download the Assessment Tool for Frontline Staff