Privacy Policy

The secure storage of data and safeguarding of personal privacy is essential in counselling. Harborough Young People’s Counselling adheres to UK policies and legislation around the use and storage of personal information. These include the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

In accordance with data protection guidelines, Helen Campbell of Harborough Young People’s Counselling is registered with the ICO (ZB303791) and is the data controller. This term refers to the person who collects, stores and has responsibility for people’s personal data.

The lawful basis for holding information

The GDPR states that there must be a lawful basis for processing personal data. The data that Harborough Young People’s Counselling collects is used to provide the counselling services commissioned by the client or person with parental responsibility for the client.

If therapy has concluded, data continues to be held under the terms of legitimate interest for the period of one year. If currently having therapy, personal information is processed as necessary for the satisfactory fulfilment of the counselling contract.

The lawful basis for holding information

Data is collected via the Client Information form and includes information that may be relevant to therapeutic work such as contact details, date of birth, medical information, agency involvement etc. The reason for collecting this data is to enable the delivery of a professional counselling service as well as for administrative purposes such as managing appointments. 

Everything that is discussed in a session is confidential between the client and the counsellor and so information is not shared with a third party.  However, there are a few important exceptions to this: 

  • If there is a safeguarding concern such as a risk of harm to the client or other people
  • If the client gives consent to a confidence being broken
  • If there is a legal requirement to inform the relevant authorities e.g. money laundering, human trafficking, drug trafficking or terrorism
  • If the counsellor is ordered by a court of law to disclose information

 If confidentiality needs to be breeched for any of these reasons, it will be discussed with the client first wherever possible.

In accordance with good practice and professional standards, records are kept of counselling sessions. Any records, notes and personal information (paper) are stored in a locked cabinet; digital records are stored on an encrypted device such as a laptop with password protection, virus protection and a firewall.

The client has the right to request access to their notes. Any requests should be submitted in writing. Records are kept for a period of 12 months after counselling ends and are then destroyed.

 

The client’s rights

The client has the right to access their records via a written request submitted to helen@harboroughyoungpeoplescounselling.co.uk. They may also request for any inaccuracies to be corrected, that their personal information is deleted or that its use is limited. More information can be found here: www.ico.org.uk/your-data-matters.

If Harborough Young People’s Counselling holds information about a client they will:

  • describe it and where it came from
  • explain why it is being held, how long it will be stored for and how the decision was made
  • tell the client who it could be disclosed to
  • let the client have a copy of the information if requested

If the client wishes to make a complaint about how their data is handled or stored, they can do so via the ICO which is the statutory body that oversees data protection law in the UK. Go to www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.