Confidentiality statement

The Careers Service works in accordance with the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) code of practice.  The guidance process is confidential, and we aim to make this clear to everyone we see for careers advice and guidance. We will not pass on personal information without the individual's prior permission. We will make any limitations on this absolutely clear at the earliest possible stage, including:

  • Individual discussions with the Duty Adviser may take place in an area that is not private
  • Within the Careers Service, information is shared on a need-to-know basis. The need to know may be concerned with the needs of the individual or with the need to maintain and develop an effective service, including the development of staff.
  • The right, in exceptional circumstances, to pass on personal information, where there is a legal or 'duty of care' imperative. This will happen only in very exceptional circumstances, and will normally take place only following consultation with a member of the Service's Management Team and, where appropriate, reference to the University's Guidance on Confidentiality in Student Health and Welfare. Even in these circumstances, we would normally seek to explain this to the individual concerned.

The factual data an individual gives to the Service is used to compile anonymous statistics about the use of the Service. Careers advisers may also keep notes on meetings with individuals to help them in their work with that individual. Other careers advisers may have access to such notes, for example, where an individual has been referred for a follow-up session with another adviser. This information is normally kept for four years after completion of undergraduate or postgraduate studies, or, in the case of Research Staff, for the period that an individual is eligible to use the Service (normally one year after the expiry of his/her last fixed-term research contract, or date of leaving the employment of the University, if earlier).

Data Protection

The Careers Service complies with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. See also the University's Guidance on Data Protection and Freedom of Information.

Information in Electronic Formats

Information such as emails, letters or CVs sent and stored electronically (including email interactions between the Service and users) will normally be kept for a year, in case queries arise, unless there is good reason to retain it for longer.

Requests for Information

Personal information will not be disclosed to third parties (including parents/relatives) without an individual's consent, unless there is a legal or 'duty of care' imperative as described above.

The Data Protection Act 1998 governs the processing of personal data (information relating to living individuals). This legislation makes it possible for individuals, including users of the Careers Service or staff, to request access to personal data that the University may hold about them.

All requests for access to personal data are handled centrally by the University's Data Protection Officer (address below). The Data Protection Officer must take account of the rights of any third party or parties who are named in any of the documents requested, and seek their consent to disclose in relevant cases where a duty of confidentiality may exist.

Requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act should be made to the Information Officer at the same address below:

Data Protection Officer (or Information Officer)
University Offices
University of Oxford
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JD
data.protection@admin.ox.ac.uk or information.officer@admin.ox.ac.uk

Page last edited: 13 May 2009

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