PRIVACY STATEMENT
Your privacy is very important to me. In line with all the necessary legislations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (2018), I am committed to protecting your personal information and to be open with the way in which it is used.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and my reference number is ZB036319.
Below is a summary of why I collect your personal information, how I use it and how I protect it.
How and why do I collect your personal information?
On your initial enquiry, I will collect relevant information such as name, contact details and a brief summary of your presenting issues, so that, firstly, I am able to understand if I can assist and, secondly, if I need to contact you as required. If you decide not to proceed, I will delete your personal data within 7 days. It is your right to ask for your details to be deleted sooner, should you wish.
At our first session, I will ask you to fill in the Client Assessment form. On this form, you are asked to provide your contact details, medical information including your GP details, and what you feel your presenting issue(s) are. Contact details are gathered so that I am able to contact you regarding our counselling sessions. Your GP details are requested in case I need to provide a report to your GP or should there be a need to contact them due to my concern over serious welfare reasons. Please note: before contacting them, I will always endeavour to discuss this with you. Information on your presenting issue(s) are requested so that I can ensure I have an understanding of how best to support you.
The lawful bases for gathering your information
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the lawful bases I rely on for processing this information is your consent to receive my counselling service, my legitimate interest in providing you with counselling, and deeming it necessary in order for me to carry out the requirements of our contract.
Storage of your personal details and notes
Your personal details are kept locked and secure and separate from your notes. Your notes are also kept locked and secure and are anonymised by a code. Once the counselling relationship has ended, both documents will be kept for 7 years after which they will be securely destroyed. You are entitled to request that this be done before 7 years have passed. Should you wish this to be the case, please request this in writing by emailing me through my contact form.
Destroying email correspondence
I will delete all email correspondence 90 days after the end of our therapeutic relationship.
Third parties
I do not give out your details to any third party unless I am legally bound by Court of Law or, as stated previously, I am legitimately concerned about the welfare and safety of yourself and/or others.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have certain rights that give you access to your personal information. The following rights apply to what can be asked:
Your right of access - You have the right to ask me for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask me to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask me to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask me to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask me to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing - You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that I transfer the personal information you gave me to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, I have one month to respond to you.
To make a request for any personal information I may hold about you, please email me through my contact form.
How to complain
If you have any concerns about my use of your personal information, you can make a complaint by emailing me through my contact form.
You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how I have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshireto be
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk
Data security
I take the security of the data I hold about you very seriously and as such I take every effort to make sure it is kept secure. My laptop is password protected as is my email account and mobile phone.
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