Guidance

Government Recruitment Service: LinkedIn and Search privacy policy

Published 25 May 2018

© Crown copyright 2018

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-recruitment-service-linkedin-and-search-privacy-policy/government-recruitment-service-linkedin-and-search-privacy-policy

This notice sets out how we will use your personal data, and your rights. It is made under Articles 13 and/or 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Your data

The data

We will process the following personal data.

Data that is likely to be collected:

  • full name
  • email address
  • phone number
  • address
  • current employer
  • current job title
  • employment history
  • skills
  • professional memberships
  • location
  • industry, profession, function

Data that may be collected:

  • working pattern
  • flexible working arrangements
  • caring responsibilities
  • pay and salary
  • school
  • university
  • year of graduation
  • employment type (for example, contractor or internship)
  • languages
  • network relationships (on LinkedIn)
  • years of experience
  • years in current company
  • years in current position
  • field of study
  • degree (type of award)
  • interests
  • endorsements

Purpose

The purpose(s) for which we are processing your personal data is to:

  • target candidates and invite them to apply for roles via Civil Service Jobs
  • assist us in identifying suitable candidates for a range of Civil Service Jobs
  • attract the best talent to the Civil Service and support the aims of the Civil Service Workforce Plan

The legal basis for processing your personal data is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the data controller.

The Government Recruitment Service (GRS) proactively seek out potential candidates for a range of departments across government in order to increase candidate quality and deliver the aims of the Civil Service Workforce Plan. Our function as part of Civil Service Human Resources (CSHR) is to improve recruitment across government in order to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

Sensitive personal data

Sensitive personal data is personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

No sensitive personal data is actively collected or used to select potential candidates. To the extent that any such data is accessed in carrying out searches, it is processed on the basis that it is manifestly made public.

Recipients

Your personal data will be shared by us with:

  • government department(s) and professions who are looking to recruit into the Civil Service

As your personal data will be stored on our IT infrastructure it will also be shared with our data processors who provide email, and document management and storage services to us.

Retention

Your personal data will be kept by us for 2 years in line with our data retention policy.

Collection of personal data

Your personal data was obtained by us from publicly available information. The majority of this information is likely to have come from LinkedIn but could also include sources such as search engines.

Your rights

You have the right to:

  • request information about how your personal data are processed, and to request a copy of that personal data
  • request that any inaccuracies in your personal data are rectified without delay
  • request that any incomplete personal data are completed, including by means of a supplementary statement
  • request that your personal data are erased if there is no longer a justification for them to be processed
  • in certain circumstances (for example, where accuracy is contested) to request that the processing of your personal data is restricted
  • object to the processing of your personal data where it is processed for direct marketing purposes
  • object to the processing of your personal data

International transfers

Your personal data will be processed outside the UK and EEA, or by an international organisation.

As your personal data is stored on our IT infrastructure, and shared with our data processors who provide email, and document management and storage services to us, it may be transferred and stored securely outside the European Economic Area. Where that is the case it will be subject to equivalent legal protection through the use of Model Contract Clauses.

Complaints

If you consider that your personal data has been misused or mishandled, you may make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Email: casework@ico.org.uk

Any complaint to the Information Commissioner is without prejudice to your right to seek redress through the courts.

Contact details

The data controller for your personal data is the Cabinet Office. The contact details for the data controller are:

Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS

Public Enquiries: Online Contact Form

The Data Protection Officer provides independent advice and monitoring of Cabinet Office’s use of personal information.

The contact details for the data controller’s Data Protection Officer are: dpo@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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