Service Description
We have a range of counselling services funded by housing associations. If you have been contacted by a counselling representative, you will have been referred by your housing provider with your consent. The funding covered by this privacy notice are:
- Arcon Housing Association
- Guinness Northern Counties
- Jigsaw Homes
- 54 North Homes (formerly Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association)
- ForHousing
- Equity Housing
- Southway Homes
- Great Places
Why we collect your information
- to process and set up your counselling sessions
- to anonymously share performance data with funders
- to ensure safe and effective clinical practice
Types of information we use
- contact details
- family and relationship details
- demographic information
- clinical notes
- outcome information
- session attendances
- risk information
The legal basis for using your information
The legal basis for providing this service is a contract legal basis. Should we carry out a referral on your behalf or share information we would request your consent. The contractual basis means:
- we must collect information to deliver the services you have requested
- we must collect information to meet the funding requirements of the housing association that is funding you.
If you do not wish to enter into a contract with us to provide counselling funded by your housing provider, we may have other funding available, or you can self-fund. Please contact us should you wish to do this.
Where we get your information
- your housing provider
- yourself
Who we share your information with
To ensure safe and consistent clinical practice among the counsellors who deliver your counselling service, anonymised information is shared in supervision with a supervisor within TLC. This supervisor is a qualified counsellor and works within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical guidelines. These are available upon request.
We also provide counsellors with training and specific guidance on what can or cannot be discussed in these sessions. Specifically:
- the counsellor will never tell your whole story and will use only information that is relevant to get the support they need to help you
- all your identifying details are not discussed (such as name, geographical location, number of children, jobs, age, etc.).
In some instances, counsellors may need to provide their supervisor with a recording of a session. No recording (audio or video) should take place without your consent and clear understanding of what the recording will be used for, how long it will be stored, where it will be stored, the device which will be used to create the recording with and by whom the recording will be made. You will be provided with a consent form if a recording is necessary, and you have a right not to consent without this effecting the counselling provided under this funding.
We provide your funder with aggregated information about the service we have provided to all the people who attend this service. This consists of session attendance, referral information, outcome information, and feedback information. We never provide identifiable information or case note information to any of the above funders.
Sharing in exceptional circumstances
We may share your personal data if there is a risk to you or another person, including a child at risk of harm as we have a legal duty to do so. Any decision to share your personal information will be made carefully, and where possible with your consent. Before you pass on information to us, you must think about what you tell us, and understand that we may have to pass it on, in the following circumstances:
- if what you have told us puts you or someone at risk – for example you may harm someone or yourself, or they may harm you.
- if what you have told us is illegal – we may be required by law or have a duty to pass on information about criminal activity.
- if it involves any risk of significant harm to a child, then we will pass on information necessary to protect the child.
How long we keep your information
- TLC will keep your information for 7 years
Transferring your information outside of the European Union (EU)
We will not transfer your information outside of the EU.
Automated decisions using your information
For this service all the decisions we make about you involve human intervention.
Your rights
On our your rights page you can find information about how to:
- exercise your rights
- contact our Data Protection Officer
- raise a concern with us
- make a complaint to the Information Commissioner
You can find out what information we hold about you, and ask us not to use any of the information we collect.
Further information
If you would like further information about this privacy notice, please email [email protected]
Updates (notice)
Our core data protection obligations and commitments are set out in our primary privacy notice.
We may update or revise this privacy notice at any time. If you are reading this as a printed copy please refer to www.talklistenchange.org.uk for the most up to date version.