How will my data be processed and stored?
In May 2018, the Data Protection Act was replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Samantha Firth is GDPR registered. The changes to the Data Protection Act are aimed at ensuring your personal, confidential and sometimes sensitive data, is held privately and securely. This means that any data you give to Samantha Firth must be processed in a way you agree with. GDPR exists to protect your rights as a consumer. It applies to your identifiable data, eg your name and address and any reason you might have for visiting Samantha Firth. It also covers any session records, text messages or emails between Samantha Firth and yourself.
How long will you hold my information for?
Samantha Firth is insured with Holistic Insurance. As such they are bound by their regulations regarding the length of time they must hold onto your information. Holistic Insurance insists that Samantha Firth must hold onto your data for 5 years after your final session. However, the rule for children is different and Holistic Insurance stipulates that their data must be held until their 25th birthday. The exception to this rule applies to young adults whose treatment ends when they are 17 years old when Samantha Firth must keep their records until they reach their 26th birthday. Client records will be destroyed in the January after the dates given above. This is in line with NHS regulations for holding data.
What if I would like my data to be destroyed before this date?
Due to the sensitive nature of what Samantha Firth offers, the insurance company advises that deletion of a client's data cannot occur before the minimum term (see above) has expired.
Am I able to see or get a copy of the information held by you?
In line with GDPR, if you send Samantha Firth a request in writing, specifying the data you wish to see, they will supply you with a copy of your data within 30 days. Samantha Firth will need to confirm your identity before sending you the information. There will be no charge for this service. NB Samantha Firth’s insurance company’s legal team may wish to verify any information Samantha Firth sends out.
What are your reasons for collecting this information?
Samantha Firth is keen to offer the highest quality support to their clients and in order to do so they will collect the following information:
This information allows Samantha Firth to provide continuity within the sessions, in order to help you towards your goal. This information will allow Samantha Firth to refer to the content of earlier sessions and previous discussions. Samantha Firth will only use your contact details/address and GP’s details with your explicit consent. See client agreement and initial consultation.
How will Samantha Firth store my information safely?
Are our discussions within the hypnotherapy sessions confidential?
Everything you discuss with Samantha Firth during your sessions remains strictly confidential. Occasionally it may be necessary for Samantha Firth to discuss elements of your sessions with their supervisor to ensure that they are helping you in the most effective way. However, no identifying features about you will be disclosed during these discussions. Samantha Firth’s supervisor is also registered with the ICO and abides by GDPR requirements.
What if I see Samantha Firth outside of a hypnotherapy session?
Samantha Firth is obliged by GDPR to protect your confidentiality at all times. So for this reason, they will not initiate conversation with you unless you are known to each other in another capacity. However, if you wish to discuss your therapy with other people, that is your choice and you are welcome to do so.
Will Samantha Firth discuss information about me with other health and social care professionals?
Samantha FIrth is only able to contact other health and social care professionals with your written consent.
Should they write to your GP, to notify them that you have entered into a therapeutic relationship with them, or to notify them that your therapy has been successfully concluded, Samantha Firth would require your signature, in line with GDPR requirements. Samantha Firth does have a ‘duty of care’ towards their clients, so the only exceptions to this would be if they believed that you were about to harm yourself or others. Should this occur then Samantha Firth would be required to inform the relevant authorities. However, Samantha Firth would always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action. Legally, Samantha Firth would also have to provide the police with information as set out in a warrant or court order, should the situation arise.
Who is the Data Controller and what is their ICO registration number?
Data Controller is Samantha Firth of My Mind Hypnotherapy This policy was last updated Match 2024. It may be updated at any time, so please check back regularly to ensure that you're aware of the latest version. ICO Registration number: ZB673176
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