Privacy policy
Confidentiality
I take confidentiality very seriously and all information shared with me will be kept confidentially. However please note the following limits to confidentiality:
As with all professionals in the field, if I hear information that causes concern about an individual’s safety, or about illegal activities, I have a professional obligation to breech confidentiality and inform partnership services.
All Clinical Psychologists work under supervision. This means that I may discuss aspects of our work together with my supervisor. This helps to ensure the highest possible standards of care to you and your family. Identifying information is not included in these discussions. In addition please be assured that as the clinical supervisor is also bound by professional codes of conduct, your information will remain confidential. I keep brief anonymised notes of supervision.
Information storage
I store your name, address, telephone number, email address, GP name and other personal information you may give me. I also write notes of our sessions. Typed anonymised notes and any reports written on your behalf are kept on a password protected computer. Written information about you is stored in a locked filing cabinet. All information will be destroyed seven years after your last appointment with me. Any emails and texts are destroyed within a year.
Although I am happy to discuss issues via email and many clients choose to do this, it is important to be aware that information sent over the internet, e.g. via email, cannot be guaranteed to be secure, error-free or protected from access by third parties. Therefore I cannot guarantee the confidentiality or security of any information you send to me over the internet. It is recommended therefore, that information relating to issues you consider confidential is communicated via post, on the phone or in person. If you would like me to send copies of reports or letters to you electronically these will be password protected.
Your rights and access to information
You have the right to ask to see any information that I hold about you. Unless prevented from doing so by legal reasons, I will provide this information to you within a month of your request. You also have the right to ask me to change any information that I hold that is incorrect and to delete any information that I hold about you unless it is required for legal/business tax purposes.