Privacy Statement

I ask a client to sign a contract with me at the beginning of our work together, this is a privacy statement which explains how I will use their personal data.

The data I collect from you

On receiving your initial enquiry through my website this would then be destroyed when our work begins, the information I would collect about clients is your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, gender, home address, email address, GP details.

In your initial assessment I will be collecting ‘sensitive information’. This information is kept separate from your initial contact details. Though any sensitive medical or psychological reports from an external doctor or psychiatrist will be kept with your contact details, as will have your personal/ identifiable data about you.

Reason for collecting and storing this data

I only keep your contact details in a separate file to my weekly themed clinical notes. I keep process notes for my records only where any details about you are deidentified to maintain your confidentiality. I keep your GP details and emergency contact in case of emergency. I will not normally disclose any information about you to anyone without your prior consent. I may only do so in exceptional circumstances when you provide me with information that indicates an immediate threat to your own life or health or anyone else’s. All information shared will be kept in a locked cabinet that only I have access to.

I will also use the data collected for the purposes of the delivery of therapy this includes your initial enquiry, training, and supervision where any identifiable details will not be shared, to create invoices, writing reports or letters where appropriate and as requested by you.

Sharing your data with other parties

I only share my client’s personal name with my clinical supervisor at the beginning of our work together to ensure they do not know of you. As mentioned above I would only be sharing a client’s data with third parties when I have concerns of your safety or that of others. I would try my best to alert you first of this necessary disclosure, it is only in such circumstances where I have an immediate high level of concern of your or others safety, or where I cannot get hold of you that I may have to break your confidentiality. In such an event this may be done by phone rather than email to try to protect your confidentiality further and get you immediate support.

Storing data

I keep the client contact form and any letters or reports in a file that is put in a locked filing cabinet in my home office that only I have access to. I keep themed client notes in the same filing cabinet in a notebook with the client initials on the front. No identifiable contact detail is kept with the client notes. I try to not keep client emails unless this is necessary or has been requested or is a record that affects a client’s safeguarding or an urgent request from a client.

Data storage duration

I store clients’ personal data and themed notes for 5 years when finishing working together.

Data deletion

After 5 years I securely delete any electronic details and then shred any physical paper records.

Your rights regarding your data

I would want clients to make requests in writing via letter, I am happy for you to send a copy of a signed and scanned electronic letter via email. It will take 1 month to process requests sometimes longer depending on how complex the work we engaged in together was, and this would be for free unless your request is seen as an unreasonable request.