CQC Use of Surveillance – Updated Guidance

How we check the use of surveillance – Care Quality Commission

How we check that surveillance is being used in a safe and appropriate way.

We are committed to embedding human rights into our regulatory approach. Assessing the safe and appropriate use of CCTV supports our ability to comment on equality and human rights in health and social care.

If you are using CCTV in your service, you must be registered/licensed with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Your reasons for using CCTV should be covered in your data protection impact assessment (DPIA).

Both the ICO and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC) provide guidance on how to complete the DPIA:

• ICO: Data protection impact assessments
• SCC: Data protection impact assessments for surveillance cameras

You must carry out a DPIA where CCTV is likely to result in a high risk to people’s rights and freedoms.

We would expect to see a completed DPIA for services using CCTV as many services are people’s homes, and/or provide diagnosis and treatment.