Data Protection Policy
Data Protection Policy
Beacon Therapies for Children
Introduction
If your child has been referred by a school for individual play therapy, group play therapy or parent-child work and the sessions take place within that school, I will follow the school’s data protection policies and this policy.
If your child has been referred by a charity for individual play therapy, group play therapy or parent-child work, I will follow the charity’s data protection policies and this policy.
If you are a private client and have self-referred this policy applies to you.
I hold this policy which explains how I collect, use and store personal information and your rights under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Protection Officer: ZA479068 and my registration is renewed annually in December each year.
What information do I collect?
In accordance with legislation, I only collect personal data that is necessary and relevant for me to carry out my role. I collect information about your child’s personal, educational and family circumstances, previous and current psychological and physical health. I will also collect information about you and your child when you voluntarily complete questionnaires and when we have reviews. This information will include:
- Names of family members
- Date of birth of the child
- Telephone and other contact details of parents/carers
- Home address of the child
How do I use this information?
I use this information to provide therapeutic support to children. This information is confidential. I discuss some of a child’s personal information with my supervisor (registered with Play Therapy UK), for the purposes of ensuring safe and effective practice. I do not disclose a child’s personal identifying information in supervision. My supervision is confidential, and my supervisor does not share this information elsewhere.
Sharing of information
On occasion there may be a need to discuss your personal information with third parties. If in my professional opinion there is an immediate and serious risk that your child might harm themselves or someone else, or if they disclose harm concerning another person, then I must pass on these concerns and follow the legally required child protection procedure.
In situations where I am compelled to share your child’s personal information with third parties to protect your child or another person, I will only share the personal information in so far as it is relevant and necessary for safety.
In certain situations, it is possible that your child’s personal information may be requested by a Court of Law, Coroner’s Office or Professional Body in which circumstances you may have limited or no rights of refusal.
As part of my professional registration I submit anonymised client data to my governing body PTUK, all data is made anonymous and has no identifying information. This data is collected for quality assurance and research purposes and is included in the consent form you sign.
Access to your information and correction
You have the right to request a copy of the information that I hold about your child. If you would like a copy of some or all the personal information, please contact me. You may ask me to correct or remove information you think is inaccurate. You have the right to ask me to erase the personal information I hold. I can refuse the request if your personal information is needed in the defence or exercise of legal claims, or I believe there is an overriding legitimate interest to retain your information.
How to do I store your information?
I keep your personal information in electronic records and limited paper files, using a code or initials as identifiers. The information that is stored on computer uses encryption and password protection. Your identifying personal information i.e. name, address and date of birth are kept separately from your record. Your identifying personal information i.e. name, address and date of birth are kept separately from your record. Paper files are kept securely locked in a cabinet in my office.
Length of storage of your personal information
I keep your child’s personal information and the record of our work together in accordance with PTUK guidelines.
Right to complain
You have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office about the processing of your personal data, via www.ico.org.uk
Changes to my data protection policy
I keep this policy under regular review, and it was last updated in October 2022.
How to contact me
Please contact me if you have any questions about this policy or the information I hold about you.
Reviewed 8th October 2022
Next Data Protection Policy review due October 2023