As a Counsellor, I am committed to complying with the terms of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding the responsible and secure use of your data.
The purpose of this statement is to let you know what personal information I collect and hold, why this data is collected, how long it is kept and what your rights are with regards to this personal data.
You will be asked to consent to the processing of your data under the terms of this policy. I am responsible for my own data management; I will abide by this privacy statement and will hold my own privacy statement that complies with the GDPR terms.
My Contact Details
Name: Christine Cunningham
Address: 11 Bassenthwaite Avenue, Prenton, CH43 9RA
E-mail: CunninghamTherapies@hotmail.co.uk
The type of personal information we collect:
We currently collect and process the following information:
Name, address, date of birth, mobile number, email address, G.P Details, details in case of emergency (ICE) contact details, referral source if applicable. I will also collect any data you give me regarding personal and family background, alongside potentially sensitive data relating to medical and mental health conditions.
How we get the personal information and why we have it:
Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:
To be able to contact clients when booking in sessions.
Retaining notes being necessary to assist in delivering therapy, to assist in complying with any regulatory or insurance related matters, etc.
Contacting your ICE, G.P or the police in case of a medical emergency or serious risk of harm to self or others
We also receive personal information indirectly, from the following sources in the following scenarios:
When you are referred via a third party such as an insurance company, firm of solicitors, Employee Assistance Programme or Counselling Centre
We may share this information with the referring organisation.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:
Your consent. You can remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting Christine Cunningham using the above contact details.
(b) We have a contractual obligation.
(c) We have a legal obligation.
(d) We have a vital interest.
(e) We need it to perform a public task.
(f) We have a legitimate interest.
What information will I share?
I will not share any information about you with other organisations or people, except in the following situations:
• Consent – I may share information with relevant medical professionals or others whom you have requested or agreed we need to contact.
• Serious harm – I may share your information with the relevant authorities if we have reason to believe that this may prevent serious harm being caused to you or another person.
• Compliance with law – I may share information when the law requires us to: Example: Safeguarding, Terrorism or a serious crime.
• In the event of sudden death or a serious accident or illness, a named colleague will be able to access the contact details so they can notify clients.
• Supervision – It is an ethical requirement for any clinician offering therapeutic services to have regular supervision.
• In the events of a potential complaint, I may share information with my insurance company and or solicitor appointed by my insurance company, in order, to seek their advice and guidance.
How we store your personal information:
All information you provide is stored as securely as possible. I will take all reasonable precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of information given.
All paper forms and correspondence are kept in a secure cabinet. All electronic files (original referral information) are kept on password-protected devices with virus protection software.
All information is limited to administrators, associates and any other personnel needed to maintain this therapy service. Any personnel that have access to these files abide by this privacy statement and / or hold their own privacy statement that complies with the GDPR terms.
If process notes are made, they are kept separate from any identifiable personal information.
For live chat or audio-webcam appointments, wherever possible, I use Zoom or WhatsApp video.
Whilst I endeavour to keep my systems and communications protected against viruses and other harmful effects, I cannot bear responsibility for all communications being virus free.
Client notes and other documentation are destroyed via cross shredder six years after the end of the therapy services offered.
Any requests for personal data need to be made through a data subject access request and will be supplied within 30 days.
If clients choose to contact Christine Cunningham by text or mobile phone, numbers are saved by first names, as opposed to full names and will be deleted once the therapy has ended.
Your Data Protection Rights:
Under data protection law, you have rights including:
Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing - You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you.
Please contact me at CunninghamTherapies@hotmail.co.uk, if you wish to make a request.
How to make a Complaint:
If you have any concerns about the use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to me at CunninghamTherapies@hotmail.co.uk
You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how I have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk/
September 2024