Privacy Policy

 Created: June 2009                         Last Revised: March 2024                           Due for Review: December 2024

At DPSI Online we are committed to safeguarding and preserving the privacy of our visitors. Helena El Masri is registered with ICO, therefore we follow strict GDPR guidelines and will only store information for the time necessary to provide a service (e.g. during the time of your studies), and/or when you request to be on our database to receive news and further information.

We review this Privacy Policy document regularly to comply with the eight data protection principles. This Policy explains what happens to any personal data that you provide to us, or that we collect from you whilst you visit our site and how we use cookies on this website. We reserve the right to update this Policy from time to time, according to changes in the law, so please review this page regularly.

Information We Collect

In running and maintaining our website as well as facilitating the provision of our online courses, we may collect the following data (if applicable):

• Information about the usage of our site including details of visits, pages viewed and the resources accessed. Such information includes traffic data, location data, and other communication data.
• Information voluntarily provided by you:

• Any personal data you input when making a purchase of any of our publications;
• Any personal data you input when you register for information using a contact form;
• Any personal data you input in any application form, such as your name, email address, mobile number. In some applications, we may ask for your previous qualifications, work experience to include a reference along with their contact details;
• Any personal information provided when you communicate with us by any means, to enquire, apply or enrol in our courses;
• Any personal data we request by email regarding your enrolment if your application was sent to us prior to January 2018;
• Proof of identification (if required by the Awarding Body for your course).

 

How we use of your information

We may use the information you provide us for one or more of the following purposes:

• To answer your request relating to our courses or services.
• To allow you access to your course and/or assessment.
• To register you with the relevant awarding body (if applicable).
• To post your certificate (if applicable).
• To send you information pertaining to other courses that may be of interest to you.
• To inform you of any changes to our website, services or goods.

If you have previously purchased services from us we may provide you with details of other goods and services that you may be interested in.

Storing Your Personal Data

Once we no longer require your personal data, we will delete such information from our database, emails on all working computers.

In operating our website, we may need to use a cloud service and we have upgraded this service to encrypt all data we store in the cloud. Such cloud service strictly adheres to the requirements of data protection legislation in the UK and the new GDPR. By providing your personal data to us, you agree to this transfer, storing and processing. We do our utmost to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to make sure that your data is stored securely.

Unfortunately, sending information via the internet is not totally secure and on occasion such information can be intercepted. We cannot guarantee the security of data that you choose to send us electronically, sending such information is entirely at your own risk.

Helena El Masri is registered with ICO, therefore we follow strict GDPR guidelines and will only store information for the time necessary to provide a service (e.g. during the time of your studies), and/or when you request to be on our database to receive news and further information.

Disclosure of Your Information

We will not disclose your personal information to any third party other than in accordance with this Privacy Policy, in the circumstances detailed above, and as follows:

• Where the law requires us to disclose your personal information.
• To avoid fraud and reduce the risk of fraud.

Use of Cookies

Cookies provide information regarding the computer used by a visitor. We may use cookies where appropriate to gather information about your computer in order to assist us in improving our website.

We may gather information about your general internet use by using cookies. Where used, these cookies are downloaded to your computer and stored on the computer’s hard drive. Such information will not identify you personally; it is statistical data, which does not identify any personal details whatsoever. You can adjust the settings on your computer to decline any cookies if you wish. You can also do this within the “settings” section of your computer.

Third-Party Links

On occasion, we include links to third parties on our website and courses. Where we provide a link, it does not mean that we endorse or approve that site’s policy towards visitor privacy. You should review their privacy policy before sending them any personal data.

Access to Information

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, you have the right to access any information that we hold relating to you. Please note that we reserve the right to charge a maximum fee of £10 to cover costs incurred by us in providing you with the information. You have the right to request corrections to any information we hold that is inaccurate, incomplete or outdated as well as the right to have your data completely erased. For this purpose, we include in all our correspondence a link for you to unsubscribe from our mailings.

Contacting Us

Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any matter relating to this Privacy Policy via email: info@dpsionline.co.uk.

_*_

Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy

DPSI Online with Helena El Masri is committed to providing equal opportunities to all learners, within the framework of the law, to provide online courses that are free from unlawful discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, sexual orientation, age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, special needs, disability, religion or belief, pregnancy or maternity.

The Provider expects each student to enter into the spirit of the policy and to ensure that a positive equality and equal opportunities climate exists by treating others on their merits and by disassociating themselves from any form of direct or indirect, perceptive or associative discrimination, victimisation, or sexual, racial or any other type of harassment.

The Provider will also take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that people with special needs or disabilities are able to participate in its online course activities.

The Provider will endeavour to take into account any special needs highlighted by learners and provide adequate extensions and/or alternatives to enable learners to successfully complete their course.

The Provider regards direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment as a serious matter. Anyone who fails to comply with this policy will be subject to a disciplinary procedure. This includes staff, students, tutors and assessors. Should you feel that you are being treated unfairly, you should contact the Provider immediately.

All complaints will be dealt with according to our Disciplinary Procedures as described in this document.

_*_

Health & Safety Policy 

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 were introduced into UK law following a European Community Directive and are now fully in force. The regulations are often referred to as Visual Display Unit (VDU) Regulations or Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations, which try to protect the health of users by reducing risks from computer work.

In order to study in a comfortable way, workstations of VDU should conform to a minimum standard for equipment, furniture and working environment.  Some students may experience fatigue, eye strain, upper limb problems and backache from overuse or improper use of DSE.

The Provider would like all learners to be aware of the importance of:

• Workstation/desk layout
• Daily study routine
• Eyes and eyesight testing

 To achieve a safe and comfortable study environment consider the following:

Device screens

The characters on the screen should be well defined and clearly formed, of adequate size and with adequate spacing between the characters and lines.

The image on the screen should be stable, with no flickering or other forms of instability. The brightness and the contrast between the characters and the background should be easily adjustable by the learner. The screen must swivel and tilt easily and freely.

It should be possible to use a separate base for the screen or an adjustable table. The screen should be free of reflective glare and reflections and be positioned directly in front of learner. The screen height should be adjusted so that the top of the screen is approximately at eye level.

Keyboard

The keyboard should be tiltable and separate from the screen and placed directly in front of learner. The space in front of the keyboard should be enough to provide support for the hands and arms of the learner and to allow placement of wrist support if required.

The keyboard should have a matt surface to avoid reflective glare, symbols on the keys should be adequately contrasted and legible and the design should allow quick, accurate location of keys without discomfort.

Desks or work surface

The desk or work surface should have a sufficiently large, low-reflectance surface and allow a flexible arrangement of the screen, keyboard, documents and related equipment.

Learner’s knees should fit comfortably under the desk. There should be adequate space for learner to find a comfortable position and to stretch legs.

Chair

Chairs should be stable and allow the learner easy freedom of movement, a comfortable position and provide support for the back. A footrest is also recommended. During periods of research and study, it is recommended that learners get up every 40-45 min to stretch or change to a standing position. This will be deemed acceptable during classes. No laying down positions will be allowed during classes.

Workspace

The workspace should be dimensioned and designed to provide enough space for the learner to change position and vary movements. No room in the workplace shall be so overcrowded as to cause risk to the health or safety of learners. Take this into account when choosing your location to study and attend virtual classes.

Lighting

Lighting should be appropriate for all the tasks performed while studying (i.e. reading from the screen, keyboard work, reading printed texts, writing on paper). Possible disturbing glare and reflections on the screen or other equipment should be prevented by coordinating workplace and workstation layout with the positioning and technical characteristics of the artificial light sources.

Noise, heat and humidity

Noise from equipment such as printer at display screen work stations should be kept to levels which do not impair concentration or prevent normal conversation. Equipment belonging to any workstation should not produce enough heat to cause discomfort to the learner.

Breaks

Spells of intensive display screen work should be broken up by periods of non-intensive, non-display screen work to prevent fatigue and to vary any visual and mental demands.

DPSI Online classes run on average from 1 to 1,5 hours. On courses where classes take 2 or 3 hours, to comply with this requirement, breaks should be considered at suitable and appropriate intervals.

During weekly study time, learners are advised to have a break after each hour of study.