This policy is written with the intention of providing transparent information regarding how Linda Norrie Counselling  controls and processes personal data.  To find out more about General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

and your rights, please go to https://ico.org.uk/for–the–public/ or https://ico.org.uk/global/contact–us/

The service

Linda Norrie Counselling provides personal counselling and Supervision by private contract to clients. In many instances, the counselling agreement (See Counselling Agreement Document) is between counsellor and client. Some counselling agreements involve a third party, for example, where parents have brought their child to counselling and fund the counselling, or where a third party such as human resources or private health care company request and fund counselling.

Data collection points

Enquiries to Linda Norrie Counselling  are received via a number of channels; in person, telephone, text or email. Initial enquiries usually contain some personal information such as names, emails and telephone numbers. Emails are received via: our marketing on the Counselling Directory/ BACP Directory websites, by clicking a link on Linda Norrie Counselling  website which opens an email in your own browser/system or direct contact independent of these methods. Other data is collected at initial meetings and following each counselling session.

Data collection & processing, what information and why do I process it?

Any client data collected and/or retained by Linda Norrie Counselling  (including personal information) is solely processed in order to make relevant contact with and provide counselling  to clients.

Personal information collected/processed;

Full name

Date of birth

Home address

Telephone number

GP name and address

Parent/Carer Name and telephone number and/or email address (where relevant)

Email address

Other information collected/processed regarding clients ;

Brief session notes made in anonymized form, identifiable only by unique client codes.

Anonymized monitoring information, identifiable by unique client codes

Text messages

Emails

Third party data collection & processing

The counselling directory and the BACP find a therapist provide robust information regarding their privacy policies and any processing of personal data to all users which can be found at https://www.counsellingdirectory.org.uk/privacy.html or at https://www.bacp.co.uk/privacy–notice/ Linda Norrie Counselling website is hosted by WordPress.com.  Please see this site for their Privacy Policy.

Data storage, retention & disposal

Linda Norrie Counselling  stores paper records, including personal information in a locked filing cabinet and electronic information is password protected and in encrypted format (including email, telephone numbers and text). Telephone numbers are anonymized, with those and any text messages being held on password protected professional mobile phones  Session/counselling notes are held separately from personal and identifying information in an anonymized format. Data is held for a maximum of 5 years after client’s last contact with Linda Norrie Counselling in line with insurance requirements and GDPR. After this time, data is then disposed of securely and confidentially.

Data sharing

It is rare that any personal information would be shared. As BACP registered counsellors, anonymized client information is shared with professional supervisors (a requirement of registration) in order to maximize service provision to clients. Personal information will not be shared with any other party without prior client consent, with the exception where Linda Norrie Counselling believe that not sharing the information would result in the risk of harm to clients or any other person or if there is a legal requirement to do so.

 In the event that Linda Norrie  is in some way incapacitated, all records will be destroyed confidentially by Linda’s supervisor. Every effort will be made to ensure current clients are informed of this action.

Counselling agreements

All clients proceeding with counselling are required to consent in writing to both the parameters of counselling and data collection within a detailed counselling agreement. This agreement sets out elements of the counselling contract with a detailed privacy statement prior to a section where personal data is collected.

For younger clients, they are required to provide written consent themselves where it is deemed that they fully understand what they are consenting to. Parents are requested to provide their consent to their children entering the counselling agreement and required to consent to their own data being processed as detailed, however, this does not mean that they will be privy to any other information the client discloses during the course of counselling, in line with data-sharing above.

Where another type of third party is involved, unless we gather personal information pertaining to themselves, they will not be required to provide their consent, any information shared regarding the client (other than attendance information) will be subject to clients’ providing consent.

Access to personal data and requests to erase, limit use or amend personal data

As clients consent to and provide personal information, they are informed that they can request access to this information at any time and be provided with details as to where they can learn more about their rights in relation to GDPR. No charges will be made for accessing personal information and the personal information will be provided at the earliest possible time. Clients also have the right to request that data is erased, limited or amended and the right to be compensated for any harm caused by incorrectly processing personal information.

This policy is written with the intention of providing transparent information regarding how Linda Norrie Counselling, controls and processes personal data. If you have any queries regarding this policy, please contact us using the details below. To find out more about General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and your rights, please go to https://ico.org.uk/for–thepublic/ or https://ico.org.uk/global/contact–us/

Contact: Linda Norrie

Lindatalk2me@gmail.com

07894 351169