Privacy Statement – Confidentiality Agreement 

Statement of Understanding 

 

between David Stace  

 

and   

 

______________________________________ 

 

The counselling that I provide is confidential. Details of the counselling will always be protected. The only exceptions to this are if I or professional parties regulating my services judge that it is necessary to break confidentiality because of the risk of death, serious injury, serious criminal activity or serious harm, involving you or another person, or by due process of law. Wherever legally possible and with due regard to expediency in every situation I will endeavour to consult with you before any breach in confidentiality takes place as long as this will not compromise your safety or the safety of others or with due regard to the law. 

 

I realise that such a disclosure would be a very serious matter and it would not be taken lightly. I am bound by an Ethics Code. In the rare event of breaking confidentiality only those persons who absolutely need to know will be informed. In line with best practice, all confidential records will be kept in a locked filing cabinet, or password protected if they are kept electronically. My website is a secure website and all communication generated from that site is protected and encrypted, including Secure Payment for sessions. I will always ensure that the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 are complied with. 

 

I will not share your information for marketing purposes with companies outside of my counselling service.  You have the right to request a copy of the information that I hold about you. If you would like a copy of some or all of your personal information, please email me at d_stace@icloud.com or write to me at the following address. 

 

Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London, W5 5TH. 

 

I collect information about you when you become my client in the first therapy session as described in the Client Consent – Information Sheet in relation to the Pilot Project of which I am a member as a professional practitioner  I also collect information when you voluntarily complete a CORE form and regular feedback data following our sessions together.   I also retain essential contact details securely in a locked filing cabinet for safeguarding purposes as describe overleaf. 

 

In normal situations where you are presenting with no reason to make a disclosure, I only share a limited amount of personal data in Supervision, both individual and group.  In such circumstances I only ever share your first name age and what you bring to sessions.  I am required to do this by my professional body the British Association of counselling and Psychotherapy.  The purpose of supervision is to ensure the highest possible standards of your care.  

 

I hereby give consent for records of me and my counselling sessions, and CORE and session feedback information, to be kept as described above and overleaf. 

 

Signed (client)……………………………………………… Date……………….. 

 

Name (PRINT)………………………………………………. 

 

Signed (counsellor)……………………………………… Date……………….. 

 

Name (PRINT)………………………………………………. 

 

 

Use of your Personal Data by David Stace at Counselling Helps 

 

I am required by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy to keep the above records about you and records of my sessions with you. I aim to keep such records in line with the General Data Protection Regulation of Europe May 2018 (GDPR) and have registered my Private Counselling Practice with ICO. 

 

In line with best practice, all confidential records will be kept in a locked filing cabinet, or password protected and encrypted as far as possible if they are kept electronically.  I do not electronically record the information which you are providing in the above form.  I keep this form in a locked cabinet together with your CORE form but not together with your session notes. 

 

The case notes for each session are kept separately and electronically and password protected and also coded alphanumerically to protect your identity. These password protected notes are kept together with the dates of your session and allows me to review them to ensure that I am aware of your ongoing safety, well-being, therapeutic progress and with due regard to the law.  I also keep a separate spreadsheet document of the dates of your sessions with me which use the same coded alphanumeric reference that I use to keep records of your session notes. I will resist all requests to share your personal details and or session notes and will do my upmost to secure your records against any unauthorised attempt to access your counselling records. 

 

Your GP and or Next of kin would only ever be contacted under the circumstances described on the previous page to ensure your well-being and safety.