A client's experience of therapy is very important to the effectiveness of sessions, and one of the most important aspects of this is a client being able to feel that their concerns are discussed in a safe and secure environment. The following details the steps that are taken to ensure that any information that relates to a client, or information a client provides, is processed legally and securely. The information and privacy policy below works in conjunction with the confidentiality policy.
It is necessary for information to be used and processed due to the nature of the therapy process. Clients are given a therapy contract at the start of their first session. By signing this agreement, a client consents to the processing of personal and sensitive personal data for the purposes of therapy. Ongoing consent is assumed by attendance of future appointments.
Due to the individual nature of therapy, it is difficult to anticipate what information will be obtained by the therapist. The therapist will aim to ensure that any information requested, is relevant to the overall goals of therapy. It is likely that sensitive personal information is required, in order to conduct therapy, as many concerns that people wish to discuss with a therapist is, by its nature, sensitive.
Information about a client primarily comes from the client themselves, in the therapy session. Throughout the session, notes are taken that relate to the content of sessions. These session-notes are kept securely - scanned and saved behind password protection. At the end of therapy, these notes are shredded, and deleted.
Alongside this process, more formal notes are written up after each session, that are more 'matter-of-fact' and note important contents of the session - e.g., the main issues discussed, the outcome of the session and any issues concerning safety. These records are printed at the end of therapy, locked away in a filing cabinet and kept for seven years after the last appointment with a client.
As there is a professional requirement to keep accurate records, clients are unable to request the removal of data. Any data that is requested to be modified by a client will be done at the therapist's discretion. Any modification will be attached to the original data, due to professional requirements, rather than data being replaced.
Clients can consent to their sessions being recorded by an electronic audio device. The digital recordings are kept behind a password at all times. Clients can consent to these tapes being used for any or all of the following purposes: the therapist's development and supervision, teaching and supervising other therapists. These tapes will be deleted one year after a client's final session.
Third parties may offer information regarding a client, often the referring organisation. This information is processed in two ways: electronic data is received, e.g., by email, and kept securely using password-protection. Any individual documents that include sensitive and/or identifiable data is encrypted using a separate password. At the end of therapy, these documents are printed and kept in a locked filing cabinet, and electronic copies are deleted. If hard copies of documents are received, they are stored in a locked filling cabinet.
Where there may be a significant risk to you or a third party, information will be shared with the appropriate services in order to ensure your safety, or that of others.
Clients are able to access the information that is related to them by using the contact details set out in the Contacts Page. No charge applies to these requests unless requests are 'manifestly unfounded or excessive'.
There are instances where the therapist is legally obliged to share information, such as a court order, or where not sharing information may cause harm to a client, the therapist or any third party.
If a referring agency has given details of a client, and has facilitated this referral, a condition of the referral being accepted is that some information is sent to the referring agency (typically due to funding requirements). Examples of this information includes, but is not limited to: psychometric questionnaire scores, an overview of key presenting problems and an indication of the treatment plan.
It is necessary for information to be used and processed due to the nature of the therapy process. Clients are given a therapy contract at the start of their first session. By signing this agreement, a client consents to the processing of personal and sensitive personal data for the purposes of therapy. Ongoing consent is assumed by attendance of future appointments.
Due to the individual nature of therapy, it is difficult to anticipate what information will be obtained by the therapist. The therapist will aim to ensure that any information requested, is relevant to the overall goals of therapy. It is likely that sensitive personal information is required, in order to conduct therapy, as many concerns that people wish to discuss with a therapist is, by its nature, sensitive.
Information about a client primarily comes from the client themselves, in the therapy session. Throughout the session, notes are taken that relate to the content of sessions. These session-notes are kept securely - scanned and saved behind password protection. At the end of therapy, these notes are shredded, and deleted.
Alongside this process, more formal notes are written up after each session, that are more 'matter-of-fact' and note important contents of the session - e.g., the main issues discussed, the outcome of the session and any issues concerning safety. These records are printed at the end of therapy, locked away in a filing cabinet and kept for seven years after the last appointment with a client.
As there is a professional requirement to keep accurate records, clients are unable to request the removal of data. Any data that is requested to be modified by a client will be done at the therapist's discretion. Any modification will be attached to the original data, due to professional requirements, rather than data being replaced.
Clients can consent to their sessions being recorded by an electronic audio device. The digital recordings are kept behind a password at all times. Clients can consent to these tapes being used for any or all of the following purposes: the therapist's development and supervision, teaching and supervising other therapists. These tapes will be deleted one year after a client's final session.
Third parties may offer information regarding a client, often the referring organisation. This information is processed in two ways: electronic data is received, e.g., by email, and kept securely using password-protection. Any individual documents that include sensitive and/or identifiable data is encrypted using a separate password. At the end of therapy, these documents are printed and kept in a locked filing cabinet, and electronic copies are deleted. If hard copies of documents are received, they are stored in a locked filling cabinet.
Where there may be a significant risk to you or a third party, information will be shared with the appropriate services in order to ensure your safety, or that of others.
Clients are able to access the information that is related to them by using the contact details set out in the Contacts Page. No charge applies to these requests unless requests are 'manifestly unfounded or excessive'.
There are instances where the therapist is legally obliged to share information, such as a court order, or where not sharing information may cause harm to a client, the therapist or any third party.
If a referring agency has given details of a client, and has facilitated this referral, a condition of the referral being accepted is that some information is sent to the referring agency (typically due to funding requirements). Examples of this information includes, but is not limited to: psychometric questionnaire scores, an overview of key presenting problems and an indication of the treatment plan.