Privacy Policy
Key details
Explore Counselling Ltd Privacy Policy
Completed 26/11/2023 Next due for review 26/11/2024
Our contact details
Name: Terence Bond
Address: The Grosvenor, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4HG
Phone Number:07824 495752
Explorecounsellinghampshire@gmail.com
www.explore-counselling.co.uk
I am committed to keep your data safe and using it only in accordance with the guidelines set out in UK General Data Protection Regulation legislation (UK GDPR). Where I have asked you to provide me with or you have supplied your data it will only be used as set out in my privacy policy below.
Explore Counselling Ltd is registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office). This body works in the public interest to ensure business accessing and processing data do so in accordance with the provisions set out in the UK GDPR legislation.
Whenever you visit my website, you agree to the use of cookies. Depending on your computer settings Cookies may be stored on your computer in order to remember your preferences when you next visit. Some cookies are necessary for normal operation when you visit my website. It is possible for you to clear cookies from your computer by following instructions provided by your computer manufacturer.
The type of personal information we may collect
We currently collect and process the following information. This may be collected by phone, when you enter details on my website, via email or when we meet in person:
Personal identifiers, contacts and characteristics (for example, name and contact details)
Date of birth
Email address
GP Details
Next of kin information
Relevant medical information to enable me to work with you ethically, effectively and safely
Data exchanged over the internet, via email
During our work it is likely that information deemed by GDPR to be special category data will be disclosed. Special category data may include your sexuality, religion, health etc. I use this data in order that I provide you with counselling services. This information is not, and will not be shared with third parties.
How we get the personal information and why we have it
Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:
Enquiry about our services
To enable us to provide you with our counselling service
To provide you with details of other services we may offer
We may also receive personal information indirectly, from the following sources in the following scenarios:
Your GP, Social Prescriber, Charity or other referral sources
Information exchanged during counselling is done so on a confidential basis however in accordance with the particulars set out in our working contract you should be aware that there are limits on confidentiality. For example, we may share information with your GP should you be in crisis, The Police or other agencies that have issued us with a court order to request data we hold about you. We may share your contact information with other service providers in order to provide you with services we are unable to offer.
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:
(a) Your consent. You are able to remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting Terence Bond at the above address
(b) We have a contractual obligation.
(c) We have a legal obligation.
How we store your personal information
Clients are allocated a unique reference number. We keep limited session notes using this unique identifier. Counsellors in the UK are required to have clinical supervision however your identity will not be disclosed nor will your details be shared. Your contact information is securely stored with passwords. We will keep this information for 7 years after our last contact, after which it will be permanently deleted.
Our IT equipment is updated regularly with the updates recommend by the operating system provider. Laptops are locked with a password whenever they are not in use. Whenever we make an exchange of data over the internet, email or telephone or store data we take all reasonable steps to protect data. IT providers use secure methods of encryption however you should be aware that no one method of data exchange or storage is guaranteed to be 100% secure.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have rights including:
Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing - You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you.
Please contact us at explorecounsellinghampshire@gmail.com , 07824495752 or by writing to the above postal address if you wish to make a request.
How to complain
We promise to keep any data we hold about you safely and securely. If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to us at
Explore Counselling Ltd
We aim to resolve complaints as soon as possible. We promise to acknowledge your complaint within 7 working days and provide you with our final response within 8 weeks of receipt.
You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk