This privacy statement has been updated in accordance with UK GDPR and explains how your personal information is stored and used by me, Kelly Almond-Lundy (Counsellor & Psychotherapist of Amukelani Counselling). You have a right to see the information I hold on you and if this is requested, I will endeavour to give you access to your information within 1 month of your request.
Confidentiality is of utmost importance to me and your privacy a top priority. I adhere wholeheartedly to the guidelines set out in the BACP ethical framework. As the law states, the only exceptions to confidentiality are if you were to mention anything to do with Terrorism, Money Laundering, Drug Trafficking or Radicalisation. In this event, I am required by law to pass on any details to the relevant authorities. In addition to this, if you were to mention anything that raised a concern about significant harm to yourself or someone else, it may result in me needing to share your information with a relevant 3rd party, in most cases, my supervisor.
As an independent, small business owner I am required to keep details and records of my clients. I am the sole person who collects and stores these documents and personal information.
In an assessment, I will collect data such as:
· Name, date of birth, address, email and contact telephone number.
· Your reasons for wanting to access counselling
· Details of medical and or psychological conditions
· GP’s details in case of an emergency
I collect these for contact and safety purposes and to have an intake of relevant information to help me assess whether or not I am the best therapist for you. These handwritten, completed assessment sheets are stored in a locked filing cabinet at my home. I am the only person who has access to this information. Telephone numbers are saved to my work phone under first names only. This is done in case, as aforementioned, I need to contact you regarding booking an appointment or at the last minute, for example, regarding cancellation. Once Counselling has ceased, your assessment sheet is destroyed and your number deleted. If we have had contact via email, your email address will also be deleted once Counselling has ended.
As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to their recommendation of keeping short notes after each of my counselling sessions. These are handwritten and not kept electronically.
· These notes are coded, so your name will not appear on them
· These notes are not detailed
· They are stored separately to your assessment, in a locked filing cabinet.
Under the guidelines I follow, these records are kept for 7 years and then destroyed.
The only 3rd party involvement in my business is my Clinical Supervisor. Other than supervising my clinical work, I have an arrangement with her that in the event of my incapacitation or death, she would contact all of my current clients to inform them. The information she holds about my clients is regularly updated (on a monthly basis) and consist only of a clients’ first name and contact number.
These are sent to her electronically, but are password protected and for her records only. Other than this, your information will never be passed on to any other 3rd party unless mutually agreed by us (“us” refers to you the Client and me the Counsellor) or if one of the aforementioned exceptions to confidentiality occur. If there is a safeguarding risk, I will always try to talk to you about this before passing any information on, but in some cases, for instance imminent risk of significant harm where your safety or the safety of another comes first, I may have to act without discussing it with you. This would only be done in extreme circumstances out of a duty of care.
Lastly, if we were to bump into each other outside of the counselling room, my policy is not to converse with you. This is not to be rude, it is to maintain confidentiality and keep your anonymity safe.