Privacy policy- Protection on your Data

Personal Information

As working with individuals is so personal the nature of what we do as counsellors it is necessary to collect and store a significant amount of personal information in order to work effectively making sure ongoing assessment and support through our therapeutic work. The type of information that is required will be covered in our initial stages of contact with Willow Hill Counselling. We will need consent forms to be signed to indicate agreement to collecting and storing personal data.

Willow Hill Counselling can hold personally identifiable information for the following purposes.

Referrals
GP consultation
Assessments
Review
Reports
Court orders
Supervision/Consultation
Feedback and Research

How Willow Hill Counselling Works with Data

Withdrawing Consent

Should you wish to withdraw your consent for Willow Hill Counselling to hold and use data on yourself and family whilst therapy is being received, then you will need to put this in writing and email to our office Willowhillcounselling. The will happen if this happens will be explained to you. Withdrawal of consent for holding and using personal data and moving forward will be that we will need to finish our therapeutic work immediately. You can ask for data about you and your family to be withdrawn at any point once therapy has stopped.

Electronic Protection

Willow Hill Counselling's electrical devices are all password protected to protect against external threat. Electronic records are created using Pages and are also password protected.

Paper Recordings

Willow Hill Counselling holds official papers such as:

referrals
assessment forms
client notes
supervision reflections

These are for assessing and tracking progress. For creating any formal reports that may be needed. Supervision notes and reflective notes do not have any personally identifiable information. Only key themes and events of the therapy for the therapist further thoughts and reflection for professional supervision.

Any third party documents and a decision as to whether they will be kept will be made. If they are not needed they will be destroyed appropriately. All paper files are kept under secure locked conditions.

Access to Records

If in the event that a client would like to see their case not a request in writing via the WillowhillCouselling email there will be a admin charge for this (£10) there will be a processing time of up to 30 days. Any information details about 3^rd parties will be blanked from any document released.

Sharing records

Client information may be requested by court order in the form of a subpoena. In this case Willow Hill Counselling is obliged to release these notes. A coroner may also request notes if the client has died.

Any other requests for client information to be shared will only be shared if safeguarding is in the best interest of the client. In these cases it will most likely health and social care professionals and/or the police. In such instances this will be discussed in the initial contact phases.

Accountability

Willow Hill Counselling is registered with the Information Commissioners Office. The ICO provides guidance to both public and professional agencies about data protection and Willow Hill Counselling endeavours to work within the guidance they offer. Any complaints about how Willow Hill Counselling has managed your data can be directed to the ICO.