Alison Ebanks Counselling Privacy Policy 

 

Confidentiality 

As part of my privacy policy, I will always keep any information provided through this website confidential.  I will not contact you unless you indicate that you would like me to do so by sending me an email, text message or telephoning me.  I will never share your personal details with a third party without your permission.

 

I maintain confidentiality in accordance with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Code of Ethics) their website details are www.bacp.co.uk.  

I am a member of the BACP and am bound by their Code of Ethics.  Should you be dissatisfied with my work and this matter cannot be resolved between us then you have the right to register a formal complaint with the BACP.

Although our sessions are confidential, I reserve the right to breach confidentiality in exceptional circumstances:

• If you disclose any information during our counselling sessions which indicated that you are at risk of seriously harming yourself or someone else.

• If I believe that a child or adult is at risk of harm or abuse.

• If a Court of Law orders me to disclose information about you.

• If you share information about a proposed act of terrorism or other illegal act.

Note Keeping and Records

I will keep brief confidential notes of our counselling sessions.  Additional notes, records and assessment details will be kept in a secure file.  To ensure privacy and maximum security, your notes will be locked securely at my premises or stored on my laptop which is password protected.

During our work I am required to have supervision sessions.  This is to ensure that you have professional, ethical and effective counselling sessions.  Confidentiality will be maintained at all times during supervision.

 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

I am registered with the ICO (Information Commissions Office).

What data do I keep and why do I need it?

Name and age – basic information that helps me get to know you.

Address, email, and telephone number – I use this as a way of contacting you regarding our sessions.

Emergency contact/Doctor Details – If I become concerned that you were at risk then I may need to contact your emergency contact number or Doctor.  If I can, we would first discuss this, and I would tell you that I am going to do this.

Session Notes - I keep brief anonymous notes of our session, which can only be identified by a number and is securely stored in a filing cabinet or on my laptop which is password protected.

Will I share your data and if I do who will I share it with and for what purpose? 

I will not sell you data or use it for unethical reasons.  I may have to share your information if I am subpoenaed by a Court, if you or anyone you tell me about is at serious risk of harm, I may have to pass this information on.  I also have regular supervision where I talk about my work, but I will only use your identify number and your first name.

How will I store your data?

I store paper records locked in a secure cabinet.  My computer is password protected.  Your telephone number will be on my telephone again identified by a number.  Only I will have access to your information.

How long will I store your data and how will I dispose of it?

I will keep your session notes, your first name and unique code for 5 years.

I will shred this document with your personal information 1 month after our work finishes.

I will delete your telephone number from my mobile 1 month after our work finishes

 

Cookies

What is a cookie?
 
A cookie is a small amount of data stored on a computer that contains information about the internet pages that have been viewed from that computer.  They are commonplace on the internet and are used by websites to improve the user’s online experience by storing information about how the user navigated around and interacted with it.  This information is then read by the website on the next occasion that the user visits.
 
Users can adjust the settings on their computer to restrict the number of cookies that it accepts, or notify them each time a cookie is sent. This should improve privacy and security but will generally mean that certain personalised services cannot be provided, and it may therefore prevent the user from taking full advantage of a website’s features.
 
For further information about cookies please visit www.aboutcookies.org
 

How do we use cookies?
 
They gather information regarding the visitors to our website on our behalf using cookies, allowing us to understand the amount of traffic to the website and whether they are returning visitors.  We do not pass any information to a third party.
 
Can I browse your website without receiving any cookies?
 
Yes, if you have set your computer to reject cookies, you can still browse the website.  However, certain functions may not be available to you unless you enable cookies.
 
How can I find and control cookies?
 
You can usually adjust for yourself the number of cookies that your computer (or other device, such as a mobile phone) receives.  How this is done, however, varies according to which device and what browser software you are using.
  
Please note that we only use cookies for the purpose of enhancing your online experience and no personal data is collected from you through this process.