As a member of the National Counselling Society, I thereby follow there guidence on code of ethics, safeguarding and confidentiality policy to ensure professional standards are met.
Your privacy and confidentiality are of the utmost importance to me, and I take all reasonable steps to protect them. I have a certain ethical and legal obligation that I must follow to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved. These will be explained during our initial consultation if you choose to commence counselling.
I adhere to current data protection legislation, including Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.
Below is a summary of the privacy notice principles:
Confidentiality and Its Limits
- General Rule: Strict confidentiality is maintained within the client/counsellor relationship.
- Exceptions: Confidentiality may be broken without consent if there is a risk of serious harm to the client or others, in cases of safeguarding (child protection), or to comply with legal requirements (e.g., terrorism, court orders).
- Supervision: Counsellors attend regular supervision to ensure ethical practice. Clients are discussed using first names only, and no identifying information is disclosed.
Data Storage and Security
- Digital Records: Information must be stored in encrypted, password-protected systems.
- Paper Records: Any manual records must be kept in a locked filing cabinet within a secure property.
Collected Personal Data
- Retention Period: In line with NCPS guidelines and insurance requirements, records are typically kept for 7 years after the end of the therapeutic relationship.
- Exceptions: If safeguarding issues are raised, notes may be kept for up to 75 years, based on the Children’s Act 2004.
- Destruction: After the retention period, data is securely destroyed or permanently deleted.
Purpose of collecting data
- Purpose: Personal data is collected solely to provide counselling services, manage appointments, and maintain safety.
- Information Held: This typically includes name, contact details, and brief, anonymized session notes.
- Sensitive Data: Information regarding mental or physical health is treated as sensitive personal data.