Into The Light Safeguarding and Privacy Policies
Safeguarding Policy
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services.
Safeguarding is a specific activity that is undertaken to protect children and adults in need of care and support who are suffering, or are at risk of suffering harm.
Into The Light Privacy Statement
We take your privacy very seriously. It is the very ethos of the organisation and a fundamental part of creating trust between our clients and counsellors and Facilitators. All counsellors, and Facilitators any other Into The Light Team members must maintain strict confidentiality regarding any information about anyone connected to Into The Light.
If details of counselling sessions are held on record for the benefit of your support, only essential details will be recorded and they will be stored securely. Any information used for statistical or reporting purposes will be completely anonymised.
Sharing Information With Third Parties
(People or Organisations outside of Into The Light)
No information will be shared with a third party outside of Into The Light without written consent from the relevant person except in circumstances set out below:
Situations when it may be necessary to break confidentiality:
- Receipt of a request from you or your representative, and where the release of the notes is not judged by us as likely to cause you significant harm or harm to another person
- Where there is a specific legal requirement for us to do so
- Where there is an ethical duty for us to do, for example to avoid serious harm to yourself or another person, including the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults.
The decision on whether to break confidentiality will be decided on a case-by-case basis and always in agreement with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Security and Data Retention
We will keep your information safe from unauthorised access, unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage. Counselling notes will be held for a period of seven years after the cessation of counselling except where we agree with you to retain them for longer or where we believe that it is in best professional interests to do so.
Your Rights
You have the right to ask to see any information held by Into The Light or your Counsellor or Group Facilitator about you. To do this please submit a request by writing. You also have the right to ask for information that you believe to be incorrect to be rectified. We will endeavour to provide you with the information requested within four weeks. If we become aware of a situation where your personal information may have accidently or maliciously been obtained by a third party we will notify you within three days. If you are concerned about the way that your information is being held please discuss this with us. If you are still unhappy you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office.