Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy

Confidentiality

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• ​Counselling

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As a fully accredited member of the BACP, I adhere to their ethical framework and to ensure that you receive a professional and dependable service. 

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The content of our discussions during counselling sessions is confidential. Confidentiality will only be broken if  I have concerns that you or someone else is at risk.  I will always try to speak to you about this first, unless there are safeguarding issues (eg child abuse or terrorism)  that prevent this.

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​Your therapy notes and personal information are kept securely.  My notes will include my assessment of your sense of wellbeing, your health, and personal details.  Some information and a first name may also be shared with my BACP accredited supervisor, who regularly reviews my practice and abides by the same ethical code as I do.

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With regard to mentoring trainee/student counsellors, I will abide by the rules of confidentiality as specified in the BACP ethical framework. The content of our discussions will be fully confidential.

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• Coaching

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The content of our sessions is confidential and I  will not disclose information about you  without  your consent. 

NB: Confidential Information does not include information that was generally known to the public or in your industry. Nor would  it apply to a situation whereby I was legally required to disclose  information eg by subpoena. Also, it would not apply to a situation where I reasonably believe there to be a risk of harm to you or others – or in a case of illegal activity.

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I will keep notes about the subject matter that you bring to coaching and your personal details.  These will be kept securely (see GDPR)

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• Mediation:

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Those taking part in a mediation process (the parties and the mediator/s)  will not, unless required by law to do so, disclose to any person not present at the Mediation, nor use, any confidential information furnished during the Mediation unless such disclosure is to obtain professional advice or is to a person within that Party's legitimate field of intimacy, and the person to whom the disclosure is made is advised that the information is confidential.

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I will keep notes about the subject matter that you bring to mediation and your personal details.  These will be kept securely (see GDPR)

 

General Data Protection Regulation  (GDPR)​

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When you first contact me I will collect the necessary information such as your name and address, why you are seeking therapy and whether there are relevant details in your medical history.   

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For counselling, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral.  For coaching and mediation, you may have been referred to me by your place of employment. 

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If you decide not to proceed I will ensure all your personal data is deleted forthwith.​

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The GDPR states that I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling, coaching, mentoring or mediation) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you.​

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Your personal information will be collected for contact and identification reasons and will be kept safe and secure. I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.​

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I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office [Ref: ZB732572].  

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​My email address is: janie@janieiw.com

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​Your information is kept for the time necessary to provide the  service requested.  However outside of this I will hold your details and session notes for a period of 5 years following the end of treatment to comply with legal obligations that are placed upon me by my insurers​

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Your personal details are held by me digitally in anonymous, password-protected files.  They are not shared with any third party.  For security reasons I do not retain text messages for more than 24 hours.   If there is relevant information contained in a text message I will add this to my digital notes. Any email correspondence will be deleted after 1 week. If relevant I will add it to my notes.