TLC Counselling’s Privacy Policy Statement.
The privacy policy sets out how to protect any personal data that you give TLC Counselling when you use the website. Also, the protection of information that you as a user submit to TLC Counselling via the website, third party information sharing, completing forms and on-going session notes about you that are stored, or that we are requested to do so by law.
TLC Counselling understands the importance of safeguarding your data. The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) May 2018, forms part of the data protection regime in the UK, together with the Data Protection Act 1998.
TLC Counselling adheres to the GDPR laws and regulations as set out at www.ico.org.uk. Your data will not be shared with a third party without your consent. The only time this is overruled is when required by law to do so. All personal data is stored securely following the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR May 2018.
TLC Counselling is committed to being transparent about the data it collects and how you can exercise the right to access this information at any time. This may be done by e-mailing TLC Counselling a 'data subject access request,' and once in receipt of this e-mail, I will respond and confirm your request.
What information about me does TLC Counselling collect?
TLC Counselling collects and stores the following personal data about you in compliance with GDPR May 2018 and the BACP ethical framework and code of ethics.
Identification and contact data:
- You, the client(s), will fill out a personal information contact form to include your full name, gender, address, e-mail, and contact telephone/mobile details.
- Your personal information contact form will be stored separately from other paperwork.
Personal data forms:
- At the initial assessment/consultation, you will complete an assessment form, which is non-identifiable to you. TLC Counselling creates a personalised log number to identify you.
- Throughout the on-going therapy, I will write a brief and factual summary of the focus of the session. Only your log number is used on this paperwork to identify you.
- Once the therapy has ended, all personal data is filed in a secure lockable cabinet for the duration stated by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). You can visit www.bacp.co.uk for more information on the ethical framework and code of ethics that counsellors and therapists must abide by.
Financial data:
- TLC Counselling will not store your bank details on any forms or paperwork, other than the payments you make via bank transfer.
- On the occasion where refund and payment details are provided via text message or e-mail, this will be deleted after payments are made.
Heath and medical data:
- TLC Counselling collects your GP surgery details. However, I will not contact your GP or share information about you unless requested to do so by you, the client.
- In the initial assessment/consultation, the client(s) medical and diagnosed conditions are gathered to ensure the safeguarding of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being in the event any concerns are raised throughout the therapy.
What other information do I need to know?
Clinical supervision of 'me' as 'your' counsellor:
- Clinical supervision is to ensure the highest standard of clinical working practices by TLC Counselling (i.e., 'me'). I adhere to the BACP code of ethics as set out by the BACP framework and in conjunction with the ICO Data Protection Guidelines Act 1998 and GDPR May 2018.
- Clinical supervision aims to monitor due diligence and duty of care of all clients seen by me as your counsellor, to protect the safeguarding of everyone's mental and emotional well-being.
On-going or pending court cases:
- TLC Counselling's policy, when there is an on-going or pending court case, the client will not be able to be seen at this time. The exception is if the court case is not related to you, the client(s). I will discuss this with you before any sessions commence.
- TLC Counselling will not provide any written reports or share confidential information with a third party unless required by law to do so, or there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others.
How do third parties share my information with each other?
TLC Counselling receives referrals from occupational health services and employee assistance programs. If you are referred by an employee assistance program, they will typically pay for your counselling sessions. In these instances, there are contractual requirements for them, the client(s), and TLC Counselling.
To ensure all parties are working in partnership with one another to allow transparency with each other, the following information is standard practice. (Please ensure that the referring agency has explained their expectations to you, the client(s). TLC Counselling will also inform you of the process before commencing with the sessions).
In some cases, the referrer will contact me directly on your behalf to confirm my availability to see you. Once established, the following process is followed:
- Your referral form is sent to me via a secure e-mail, whereby I will have a password or code to access your information.
- I will contact you directly to arrange an appointment. Your contact details will be stored on my mobile phone, which has a password and fingerprint ID.
- I will have received a copy of your personal details via a referral form, and this will be stored separately from your session notes in a folder kept in a secure lockable cabinet.
- Session notes are stored in line with the BACP guidelines. Visit www.bacp.co.uk for further information.
- I will not disclose any confidential information discussed in the sessions unless there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others. In any instance where disclosure is required this will be discussed before any actions are taken, where possible.
- I will inform you of confidentiality and data protection at the first appointment.
- There are situations whereby the company/referrer requires a summary of the counselling sessions. This will be agreed upon before being submitted to the third party.
- The company/referrer will be invoiced once the sessions are completed stating the dates and sessions you have attended, cancelled, or missed.
The privacy policy and terms and conditions are subject to change from time to time in compliance with any changes in law, regulation, and guidelines from the ICO or BACP framework. If you have any further queries or questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call or send me an e-mail.
