GDPR:
The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into force on 31st May 2018. Therefore, I am now required to obtain permission from you to record and store your personal information.
Personal information (Data) such as:
• Phone number
• Email address
• Address
• GP details
All Data including any client notes are stored securely, in a lockable cabinet and/or a password protected phone or PC.
All data is stored for 7 years and then destroyed.
I will not share any of your data with anyone unless I am bound to do so due to my duty of care to break confidentiality around risk, as highlighted in the Working Agreement.
The reasons I collect/store this data is to:
• Send invoices
• Arrange appointments
• Keep client notes in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework
How I work:
I offer weekly 50 minute face-to-face sessions at an agreed day and time.
Should you arrive part-way through your allotted time, I will see you for the remainder of your time.
The Practice (East Molesey) has a limited waiting area, therefore, please arrive as close to your allocated time as possible and wait for me to collect you at the top of the stairs. I will view our first couple of sessions as a chance for us both to find out whether we might be a good fit for each other and I would encourage you to do the same.
The Therapist:
I am a Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and adhere to its Code of Ethics for professional counsellors. My membership number is 00960625. I hold professional indemnity insurance and am ICO registered.
Confidentiality:
I have a legal and ethical duty of confidentiality to you which I regard a central aspect of our work together. I will seek to protect your privacy at all times. I will not disclose any information about you, except in the following circumstances;
I undertake regular supervision to enhance the quality of my work. However, I will not disclose your personal details or anything that would enable you to be identified.
With your prior consent I may contact other health professionals.
I may need to break confidentiality when I feel there is a serious risk of harm to you or others, or in compliance with legal requirements. This may involve contacting your GP and/or Psychiatrist. If such a decision had to be taken, I would discuss this with you first.
Missed Sessions & Breaks:
Once we arrange a regular session time to meet, I shall keep that time free for you and will not use it for anything else. I therefore charge for the sessions that I keep available for you each week, as opposed to those attended. However, if you are having a planned break and give me two weeks’ notice, we may be able to arrange another session time to avoid you losing that session.
I do not charge for any sessions that I cancel myself, or when I am not working over planned breaks i.e around Christmas/New Year, Easter or during a summer break. I endeavour to give you a minimum of four weeks’ notice for my breaks.
Fees and Payment:
My fees are £70 per session. I will send you an invoice at the end of each month to be paid by bank transfer.
It is my policy that the first session is paid for in advance in order to secure the slot.
Fees are reviewed on a yearly basis, and any changes will be communicated in advance.
End of Therapy:
If you choose to end our work together, it is always best if we can plan an ending date in advance and then work towards that ending. This will give us time to think about your experience of bringing the therapy to an end.
Incapacitation:
In the unlikely event that I am unexpectedly unable to continue our work together, or contact you about this, I have made provision that a named colleague will (at that point only) be able to access your contact details, so that you can be notified and given appropriate assistance.
Critical support:
Should you need critical support between sessions, please contact your GP or one of the following organisations:
www.samaritans.org.uk (Tel: 116 123)
NHS (Tel: 111 *option 2)