Confidentiality
Everyone working at and/or for DCC, has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
Our guiding principle is that we hold your records in strict confidence.
We have a duty to:
- maintain full and accurate records of the care we provide to you
- keep records about you confidential, secure and accurate
- provide information in a format that is accessible to you (for example, in large type if you are partially sighted)
Therapy sessions are generally considered to be confidential and information about you cannot be shared with anyone without your written consent. However, there are exceptions:
- Where you are at immediate risk of causing serious harm to yourself or others
- If required to do so by law –
- The Terrorism Act (2000) required your counsellor to disclose any belief or suspicion of acts of terrorism
- The Drug Trafficking Act (1986) requires your counsellor to disclose to the police information of any individual making money through drug trafficking
- The Road Traffic Act (2000) required the counsellor to provide information to the police that might identify a driver inn a traffic offence. In addition, if a counsellor becomes aware that a client may be driving whilst unsafe (e.g though epilepsy, medical condition, drug and alcohol abuse) the law requires your counsellor to pass this information to the DVLA.
- Any other person who you request we should inform, for example a solicitor or Doctor.
- Professional(s) involved in your care will be provided with a summary of your assessment/therapy plan and a discharge summary, with your agreement. Only essential information will be disclosed unless you give permission to share more detail.
- Information about sessions will be recorded an on electronic, secure database. We may also keep paper notes which are stored securely. Clinical material is coded and anonymised, and these are only accessed by members of DCC involved in your care (except if points 1 -3 apply)
- Therapists are required to engage in regular clinical supervision which ensures the quality, safety and effectiveness of the service you receive is of a high standard. They are required to discuss their casework with a supervisor who is an experienced therapist. These conversations are confidential and subject to the above principles.
If your counsellor believes there are grounds for breaching confidentiality, it will be discussed with you (if reasonably possible) before any action is taken. The Clinical Lead Manager, a clinical supervisor, or other suitable person will be consulted if possible before any action is taken.
