A rapid review of the Healthy Ageing Programme: focus groups with beneficiaries and volunteers

Since 2007, Age Cymru has delivered the Healthy Ageing Programme (HAP) on behalf of the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government has now commissioned OB3 Research (OB3) to carry out a rapid review of the programme.

This research is a proportionate and time-limited review of the HAP to assess its relevance and effectiveness. The intention is to provide independent evidence on the programme’s flexibility and success in supporting Welsh Government policy priorities between 2022 and 2025.

As part of this review, OB3 will gather information through focus groups involving beneficiaries and volunteers of the HAP. These discussions will help us understand how well the programme is being delivered and its impact on participants’ health and well-being.

The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research. However, OB3 will delete any personal data provided through the focus groups, and anonymise the raw data, before it is shared with the Welsh Government.

The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website and possibly in other publications by OB3 and Welsh Government.

Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. However, your views and experiences are important to help inform Welsh Government policies.

The contact for this research at OB3 is Heledd Bebb.

E-mail address: heledd.bebb@ob3research.co.uk

PRIVACY NOTICE

What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information?

Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’.

OB3 Research does not hold your contact details. You were invited to take part in this study because OB3 asked Age Cymru to contact its own beneficiaries and volunteers to invite them to participate in a focus group. If you choose to take part, the focus group will be run by OB3 Research during an existing Healthy Ageing Programme (HAP) activity.

Your participation is voluntary, and if you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders, then please reply to the invitation email from Age Cymru and you will not be contacted again for this research project.

This research does not require the collection of additional personal data from you except for your image if you agree to the focus groups being video recorded by OB3.

We may need to record focus groups for operational reasons. If this is the case, we will make this clear to you before the focus group begins, and you will have the opportunity to tell us if you are not happy for the discussion to be recorded. If focus groups are recorded, personal data will be removed during the process of transcribing. Recordings will be deleted as soon as this process is completed. If discussions are not recorded, personal data will not be included in written notes prepared during or following the focus groups.

What is the lawful basis for using your data?

The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task; that is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.

Participation is completely voluntary. Research studies such as this are important for the Welsh Government to collect information and actionable evidence about its ability to deliver government priorities. The information collected in this research, for example, might be used to:

·         evaluate how well the HAP meets its aims

·         evaluate the HAP’s ability to support and adapt to evolving Welsh Government health and well-being policies for older people

·         identify successful elements and areas for improvement.

How secure is your personal data?

Personal information provided to OB3 is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of researchers working on this project. OB3 will only use this data for research purposes. OB3 has Cyber Essentials certification.

OB3 has procedures to deal with any suspected data security breaches. If a suspected breach occurs, OB3 will report this to the Welsh Government, who will notify you and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.

OB3 will use the information gathered to produce a report that will be published on the Welsh Government website. This report will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants.

How long do we keep your personal data?

OB3 will hold personal data during the contract period, and any personal data not already removed will be deleted by OB3 within three months of the end of the contract.

Individual rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this research. Specifically, you have the right:

·         To access a copy of your own data.

·         For us to rectify inaccuracies in that data.

·         To object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances).

·         For your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances); and

·         To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which is our independent regulator for data protection.

The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Phone: 0303 123 1113. Website: www.ico.org.uk

Further Information

If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact:

Name: Jacqui Campbell

E-mail address: Jacqui.Campbell001@gov.wales

The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:

Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, Email: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales.