Independent Support Solutions

1. Introduction

Independent Support Solutions is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us or use our services.

We aim to handle all personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Who We Are

Independent Support Solutions provides administrative, personal and related support services to individuals and, where applicable, businesses.

Business name: Independent Support Solutions
Business address: [Insert your business address or registered business address, where applicable]
Email: [Insert your business email address]
Telephone: [Insert your business telephone number, if applicable]

For the purposes of data protection law, the organisation or individual responsible for deciding how and why personal information is processed is known as the data controller.

3. What Personal Information We Collect

Depending on the services you use and how you contact us, we may collect the following information:

Contact details: Your name, email address, telephone number and address, where required.

Enquiry information: Information you provide when contacting us about our services.

Administrative information: Details and documents you choose to provide so that we can deliver agreed support services.

Application and casework information: Relevant information needed to assist with forms, applications, correspondence or other agreed tasks.

Website information: Technical information such as your IP address, browser type and information about how you use our website, where collected through cookies or similar technologies.

Please only provide information that is relevant to the service you require. You should avoid sending highly confidential documents through ordinary email unless appropriate arrangements have been agreed.

4. How We Use Your Information

We may use your personal information to:

Respond to enquiries and requests for information.

Provide and manage the services you have requested.

Assist with agreed administrative tasks, forms and applications.

Communicate with you about your enquiries or ongoing work.

Maintain appropriate business, financial and service records.

Manage payments, invoices and accounting where applicable.

Protect our website, prevent misuse and meet applicable legal obligations.

We will only use personal information where we have an appropriate lawful basis for doing so.

5. Our Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we must have a lawful basis for processing personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

Contract: Where processing is necessary to provide a service you have requested or to take steps before entering into a contract.

Legitimate interests: Where processing is necessary for legitimate business purposes and your rights and interests do not override those purposes.

Legal obligation: Where we need to comply with a legal requirement.

Consent: Where you have freely given consent for a specific purpose and consent is the appropriate lawful basis.

Vital interests or other applicable legal grounds: Where a specific situation meets the relevant legal requirements.

We will identify the appropriate lawful basis for the processing we carry out and explain it where required.

6. Sensitive and Confidential Information

Some support services may involve information that is particularly private, including financial circumstances, health information, disability-related information or details about personal and family circumstances.

We will only collect and use such information when it is relevant and necessary for the service being provided and where an appropriate lawful basis and, where required, an additional condition for processing special-category data apply.

We will take reasonable steps to limit access to confidential information and handle it carefully. You should only provide sensitive information where it is necessary for the support requested.

7. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share relevant information where necessary with:

Service providers who help us operate our website or business.

Professional advisers, such as accountants or legal advisers, where appropriate.

Public authorities or other organisations where required or permitted by law.

A third party you have authorised us to contact on your behalf, where appropriate and lawful.

We aim to share only the information necessary for the relevant purpose. Where third-party service providers process personal information for us, we will take appropriate steps to protect it.

8. How We Store and Protect Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

These measures may include access controls, password protection, secure storage and limiting access to information to those who need it.

No method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. However, we take appropriate steps to reduce risks and protect the information entrusted to us.

9. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including providing services, maintaining records and meeting legal obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information, the service provided and applicable legal requirements. When information is no longer required, we will take appropriate steps to delete it securely or anonymise it where appropriate.

10. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to support website functionality, remember preferences and understand website usage. Where non-essential cookies or similar technologies require consent, we will seek consent before using them. You may also be able to manage cookies through your browser settings.

If we use third-party analytics, embedded content or other external website services, those providers may process certain technical information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

The cookies and technologies actually used on this website should be identified in our cookie information and consent arrangements, where applicable.

11. Your Data Protection Rights

Under applicable data protection law, you may have the right to:

Request access to your personal information.

Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.

Request deletion of your information in certain circumstances.

Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.

Object to certain types of processing.

Request a copy of certain information in a portable format, where applicable.

Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

These rights are subject to legal conditions and exemptions. We will respond to valid requests within the applicable legal timeframe.

To exercise your rights, contact us using the details in the 'Who We Are' section.

12. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of websites operated by third parties.

We recommend reading the privacy policy of any external website you visit.

13. International Transfers

If personal information is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we will ensure that any such transfer complies with applicable data protection requirements and that appropriate safeguards are in place where required.

14. Children's Privacy

Our services and website are not specifically directed at children unless we expressly state otherwise.

Where our services involve information about children, we will handle that information carefully, collect only what is necessary and ensure that the relevant legal requirements are met.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website or legal obligations.

Any updated version will be published on this page with a revised 'Last updated' date.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how we use your information or how to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:

Independent Support Solutions
Email: [Insert your business email address]
Address: [Insert your business address, where applicable]