About the Role of the Caldicott Guardian programme

This elearning is for Caldicott Guardians, and those with an interest in finding out more about the role Caldicott Guardians play in keeping people’s health and social care data safe, and ensuring it is used appropriately.

The programme offers three, audience specific sessions:

• A session for all staff

Caldicott Guardians: sharing information and protecting confidentiality in health and care

The aim of this session is to raise awareness and inform a broad range of staff from across health and social care of the importance of Caldicott Guardians and confidentiality in their setting, organisation, or sector. The learning would benefit staff working in the NHS, adult social care, local authorities and private sector partners.

• A session for Caldicott Guardians

My role and responsibilities as a Caldicott Guardian

The aim of this session is to provide a starting point for newly appointed Caldicott Guardians, an aide memoire for the more experienced, and a pointer to the possibilities for professional development and support. It is also intended to inform Caldicott Guardians of the latest guidance about Caldicott Guardians, the support available to them, and to help train them for their role in the workplace. 

• Session senior staff

A Caldicott Guardian’s role within the senior leadership team of an organisation

The aim of this session is to ensure that an organisation’s senior leaders are aware of the importance of the role of the Caldicott Guardian. It is intended to demonstrate to leadership teams how Caldicott Guardians act independently to represent the best interests of patients and service users, and the potential impact they can have on the decision-making processes of the organisation. 

More information

In August 2021, The National Data Guardian issued guidance about the appointment, role and responsibilities of a Caldicott Guardian. This guidance covers:

• which organisations should appoint a Caldicott Guardian
• advice on how to appoint them
• the way the role should be supported by organisations
• the role and responsibilities of a Caldicott Guardian
• the competencies and knowledge that will assist a Caldicott Guardian

Previously, only NHS organisations and local authorities were required to have a Caldicott Guardian. The guidance introduces a formal requirement that widens the type and number of organisations now being asked to put in place a Caldicott Guardian, whether by appointing a member of their own staff or making other arrangements. This e-learning programme has been developed to support those organisations.

People who have completed this learning or wish to understand more about Caldicott Guardians, may find the following websites helpful:

UK Caldicott Guardian Council website (which includes an online manual)

https://www.ukcgc.uk/

National Data Guardian website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-data-guardian

NHSX Information Governance Portal (for practical advice and guidance)

https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/information-governance/

Acknowledgements

This learning was developed with staff from the UKCGC and the Office of the National Data Guardian.

Thank you to members of the UK Caldicott Guardian Council, for their consideration and time in reviewing the content for this learning.

How to Access

To view the The Role of the Caldicott Guardian programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

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In order to access any elfh programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

Register >

If you already have an account with elfh, then you can enrol on to The Role of the Caldicott Guardian programme by logging in to the elfh Hub, selecting My Account > Enrolment and selecting the programme. You can then access the programme immediately in the My e-Learning section.

NHS healthcare staff in England – ESR

The programme name programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this e-learning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto The Role of the Caldicott Guardian programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.