What is a Privacy Statement ?
A Privacy Statement tells you what information I keep on record about you, why I do this, how I protect and keep this information secure.
Why have a Privacy Statement ?
A new law called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) takes effect as from May 25th 2018 and affects the way all individuals, charities, companies, organisations, H.M. Government and the National Health Services keep information about their clients and service users. All such data users and collectors, i.e. myself, are legally obliged to publicise and make accessible their data protection policy and how your data is used and stored so that you can decide whether your information is safe even before you make any contact with me concerning the services I offer.
What information do I hold about you and why and for how long ?
Electronically I would keep a record of your contact details provided by yourself : telephone number and / or email address. This information would be visible only to myself but using a coded identifier eg John Johnstone would have a ID code of " JJ54 ". The key to all identification codes would be kept in a notebook in a handwritten note form [ not electronically ] and that notebook would be kept securely under lock and key.
Your electronically stored data would be deleted twelve months after your last contact with me.
Any communications between us by mobile phone text messaging services would be deleted after the purposes of the text communication had been completed.
Please note that I do not use any of the Social Media systems and services to contact or to explore or express relationship with clients.
Session notes are kept to a minimum, recorded on a handwritten log containing your identifier, session date and duration, and an exceedingly brief record of session contents. This information exists only as a memory aid for myself and contains no means of identifying you in any of the entries. All confidential materials would be stored in a locked filing cabinet.
Your session notes will be destroyed ten years after your last contact with me.
With whom do I share your personal information ?
No-one.
However, in the event of major illness or my death resulting in my inability to continue with your therapy, provision has been made to make your information available to my fully confidential husband David Ellerby (Professional Counsellor) who will facilitate your transition to a different therapist if that is your wish. He will also keep your notes secure for the required period according to the requirements of my insurance body. In the event of his death or incapacity this responsibility will be passed to my professional supervisor.
What are my responsibilities and your rights ?
My primary responsibility is to always take great care with all personal information held for the purposes of delivering my professional services. When I contact you by phone, text or email, I am doing so with your consent. In the unlikely event of a data loss or data breach I will notify you securely as soon as possible after such an event.
You have the right to see and request amendment of any and all information that I hold about you. In order to access this information, please contact me in writing either by Royal Mail or email.
My postal address is : Louise Ellerby, 5 Councillors Walk, Elgin, Morayshire, IV30 6JL.
Email address is louise.h.ellerby@googlemail.com Mobile Phone 07979893952
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