Are teachers meant to be using WhatsApp to discuss my DS

[PETRONELLAS]

Job-share with various other adults involved. Teacher said ‘we let eachother know about DS’s medication issue on WhatsApp. It works really well as we all read it’. I really though GDPR would not allow this and think it’s quite unprofessional. AIBU?

Wouldn’t bother me. No different to an email to all concerned

It’s a GDPR issue if they do not store/delete etc the personal information appropriately. Many companies use work emails for such information to minimise the risk.

I would have thought the teaching staff need to know if it’s serious?

GDPR may be an issue if they're using his full name and details. If it's their group chat and they say has M been given his meds I'm sure it would be fine.

I work within a similar profession where I need to speak about yp to other colleagues and we text with initials and WhatsApp pictures.

It is an efficient and secure way to send information in a closed group.
As Sirzy said, would you object to an email?

I would have thought that the need for teachers to be aware of the medication needs would be more important than the possible GDPR implications in this situation ?
Safeguarding always trumps data protection.

What's your problem really? Looks to me like you're just looking for an excuse to have a pop at a teacher. Why do people look for issues that don't exist?

Why do you think it’s an issue OP?

WhatsApp end-to-end encryption ensures only you and the person you're communicating with can read what's sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.

I wouldn't sweat it, OP. It's good that they're on the ball and managing your son's medication accordingly. They're alert and aware of his needs and using discretion when 'discussing' among themselves on a private thread. It's all good.

What makes you think that GDPR 'wouldn't allow it?'

WhatsApp is encrypted so if it's on school equipment and accessed only by people who may need to know about the medication issue then it sounds like a good way of getting important information to people quickly and efficiently.

No different to it being emailed out and staff access email on their works phone, and better than them carrying it round on pieces of paper

Do you only want one person to know? If it's on a password protected device, which I assume it is, then no issue.

But why would you tell the school about a medical issue and not want all the staff to know?

The school’s data controller needs to have approved the use of WhatsApp, deciding how it fits in with GDPR.

WhatsApp in itself is as secure as anything.

GDPR does not mean a blanket ban on using personal data. It just needs to be restricted, appropriate and time limited.

Although I don’t use WhatsApp, I can see how it is better than email or the school’s MIS. Pastoral/safeguarding platforms can be really expensive.

I work in a GDPR environment and we would not recommend this. Are they using their personal devices for this? I also doubt the school has done appropriate checks on WhatsApp to be sure about what it does with the information. Sounds super dodgy

I’d rather my child was be sure to have the medication needed or any other concern tbh. I’d be pleased that they were communicating.

I dropped a part of dd cooking ingredients to her school office last week ( to much for her to carry) and the eggs got crushed and the flour spilt as one staff member didn’t tell another so yeh when it’s something as vital as meds’ rather than eggs, flour and golden syrup I’d want them to know!!

Probably is a GDPR breach but actually as a parent I would rather have staff communicating efficiently and regularly about my son as a team

It's WhatsApp - just a better version of email and encrypted so the info can't be stolen. Should they communicate solely in smoke signals and morse code?

I wouldn’t want to be a teacher these days. Everything seems to be criticised...

Unless there is more to this you are being unreasonable.

This wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I would prefer it to an email personally, as WhatsApp tends to be more frequently checked. I would not preoccupy myself with GDPR concerns, I'd be more pleased that the school was passing vital info to the right people.

I think it's a good idea, because it means everyone in that What'sApp group is on the same page and getting the same information at the same time so there's no confusion between them

I'm a DPO and lawyer and there is nothing that would ring alarm bells in the use of WhatsApp itself. What is your concern?

The data is significantly more secure than email and it seems like a sensible way of ensuring your DS gets the medicines he is required.

It wouldn't bother me. If that is the most effective way of getting information passed on then I'm all for it.

It’s safer and more secure than email, so I don’t see why it’s a problem.

Yeah it probably does breach some sort of GDPR, but like others have said, I would much rather a team who are communicating effectively about my child's needs.

As a teacher, I can tell you that a team (especially a team with job shares etc) who are in regular contact via WhatsApp is much better than a team who barely communicate with each other at all in any form.

How does it automatically breach GDPR?

No full names is ok for GDPR. no different to an email. WhatsApp messages are encrypted.

Don’t forget that GDPR doesn’t prohibit the sharing of personal information. You have to have a legitimate and proportionate purpose for sharing it. This seems like that to me. It does have to be secure, so these should be school devices.