IPS Grow reposted this
What does 'safety in data' mean for vulnerable children and young people? Our new report, 'Safety in data: Building data infrastructure that keeps Young Carers seen and safe' (Use the QR code or the link in comments) explores the concept of 'safety in data'. For vulnerable children and young people, data is a critical tool in ensuring they receive the support they need — but it must be used with care. If young people are to feel safe sharing their data, there must be a focus on designing data infrastructure that has safety, ethics and inclusion at its core. Young Carers are a key group within this discussion. They often experience significantly worse outcomes than their peers in education, health, and safety, yet remain largely invisible. This invisibility comes in many forms – for example, some young people may not disclose their caring responsibilities to avoid what they perceive to be unsafe involvement by the state; for others, their caring responsibilities are overlooked, with attention focussed instead on more “acute” needs, such as being exploited or excluded from school. As a result, their support needs go unmet. Improving data practices is essential to ensuring Young Carers are seen and properly supported – however, this has to be done in a way that takes the above into account and avoids further harm, particularly for those from global majority or low-income backgrounds, who are at greater risk of discrimination and disproportionate interventions. Our report dives into three core principles of good data infrastructure: 1️⃣ Data is accurate, relevant and ethically collected. 2️⃣ Data is used responsibly to inform decisions without causing harm. 3️⃣ Collaboration is promoted in a way that safeguards trust and security. Our key recommendation is to create a new, public conversation about what 'safety in data' truly means — balancing risk management and efficiency with making young people feel safe and supported in sharing their information. This report, is funded by The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund and is part of Social Finance’s Early Inclusion Collective (EIC), a partnership or community of practice that brings together organisations looking to create safer, more inclusive systems for children and young people through widespread systemic change. Spectra Sara Jones Akira Takenaka Tanveer Sian Katy Saunders Adam Swersky Caroline Gadd MYTIME Young Carers Krista Cartlidge Carers Trust NHS England Whitney Crenna-Jennings Laura Bleaney Molly Flaherty Joe Hallgarten The Winch Charlotte Prothero Cristin O’Brien, LCSW Reena Bhogal-Welsh Beth Prescott Nic Kidston Cath Murray Donna John Sarah Gordon Meg Kelly Thanks to Helen James and Izzy Stewart-Roberts at Red Stone for the brilliant graphic design. #SafetyInData #YoungCarers #DataEthics #Inclusion #SystemsChange