This is the privacy notice of Felden Counselling Services. In this document, “we”, “our”, or “us” refer to Felden Counselling Services.
Introduction
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR came into force in May 2018 and I am happy to share what I am doing with data with you. I need to contract with you when you enter into a therapy as I need certain information to supply a service to you. The ICO website gives you more information on the legal process we follow. https://ico.org.uk/
In brief:
Your personal details
We need to collect from you: Your name, address, contact details, health and medications and your GP details. I take session notes that are necessary about facts of the session and with treatments you may have had.
How your data is stored
I hand write notes which are needed by me to provide your therapy. These notes include your contact details and they are locked away in a filing cabinet. In the event of me needing to write to a third party, I will password protect all documents; anything held on a laptop is protected by a password.
How long we keep records for
Records are kept for 7 years and then shredded. This includes receipts and anything where you may be identified. I am required to keep records by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax purposes. Any breach in security of the data I hold about you will be notified to you within 72 hours of the breach.
How we may share your information
Your confidentiality is very important to me, however, there are times I may need to break this: Examples are if I feel you are at risk of harm to yourself or others, money laundering, child abuse, abuse of an adult, acts of terrorism, radicalization, slavery and if we need to call an emergency service. At times we do not need to inform you that we will break confidentiality.
Right To access your data
You have the right to access and ask for any copies of information we hold on you, you may ask us to alter and amend details I have written. I am not obliged to give any of our data to a third party for example a solicitor or legal department without your written consent.
Your right to be forgotten
Once your therapy has come to an end, I hold onto the file for 1 month, thereafter your file is archived, I will not send emails or any other communication unless requested by you. Notes will be destroyed after 7 years.