RedChair Data protection

The information about confidentiality in no way contravenes your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation May 2018 to access personal data that RedChair holds on you. RedChair keeps confidential records and statistics about its clients. All records are kept securely and are only seen by authorised RedChair personnel. These records are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation May 2018. Some of the information we may collect is classified as sensitive personal data and we can only use such data where we have your explicit consent. This data may include: racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, physical or mental health, sexual life, criminal proceedings and offences. Your personal and sensitive personal data will only be used in order to provide the service to you and for managing and quality assuring the service. Records are kept electronically for as long as is needed.

RedChair recognises that on rare occasions our clients may wish to exercise their rights under the General Data Protection Regulation May 2018 and make a subject access request in respect of their personal information held by RedChair. Often during counselling, information is provided by more than one individual. In these cases RedChair will only release information if consent has been given by all of the individuals involved. If at any time you wish to exercise your right under the Act you should put your request in writing to RedChair, provide evidence of your identity such as a copy of your passport or driver’s licence and proof of your address. When RedChair receives your written request with evidence of identity they will respond to your request within 40 calendar days. RedChair’s response to a valid subject access request will normally be in the form of a schedule listing and describing the personal data we hold on them.

Confidentiality

RedChair counselling is a private and confidential form of help. We hold information about each of our clients and the counselling they receive in confidence. This means that we will not normally give your name or any information about you to anyone outside the organisation. However, there are exceptional cases where RedChair might ethically or legally have to give information to relevant authorities, for example if we had reason to believe that someone, especially a child, is at serious risk of harm or to prevent a miscarriage of justice. We will discuss any proposed disclosure with you unless we believe that to do so could increase the level of risk to you or to someone else.

If you come with a partner or your family, the counsellor may suggest seeing each of you individually. It is important for you to know that what is said in those individual sessions will be confidential and not shared with your partner or family.

When a workplace intervention, family intervention or family members support and fund counselling or treatment we will ask for an open attendance disclosure. This means that non-attendance at sessions will be shared with the person who funds the sessions. This does not include the content of what is said in sessions.

RedChair Interventions involve sharing of information, written letters, and these are often passed on to a treatment provider. At all times you control the use and distribution of your information. Sharing information with other agencies as part of a journey of care is often essential.

RedChair may ask for permission to share your information in service of assisting you or others in your group regarding further therapy, treatment or help.

RedChair will ask for your permission at all times to share information with others for therapeutic support.

RedChair does not use your information for marketing purposes.

RedChair uses secure and encrypted electronic storage for all client notes, emails, correspondence. All electronic methods of Clients and business information usage is password protected regardless of device used to access said information.

Authorised electronic recording

Occasionally a counsellor, for example one who is undertaking a training course, will be required to tape record a counselling session. Some counsellors regularly use audio or video recording in their work and in these circumstances you will be asked to give your written consent for this to happen. The consent will specify all the ways in which the recording will be used (for example training, supervision or research) and will specify how and when the recording will be destroyed.

Reports and client records

Occasionally RedChair is asked by our clients or by external agencies such as treatment centres or lawyers to write reports on the progress made in counselling. We are happy to to this when it is a client led request. We will resist all attempts to gain access to client information from any third party or legal entity when it is not requested for release or disclosure by the client.

Codes of ethics and practice

All RedChair counsellors and supervisors are required to comply with the code of ethics and practice that is appropriate to the work they undertake.

RedChair maintains adherence to the ethics of the Association Of Intervention Specialists (Link)

Cancellation policy

If you intend to cancel, at least 24 hours’ notice should be given otherwise the session or work is fully chargeable.

Feedback and complaints

Please ask for support from RedChair in regard to any complaints or feedback you wish to make known. info@redchair.co.uk or 0800 530 0012. We will respond promptly.