The confidential and professional relationship between each client and me underpins the effectiveness of the service, my moral obligations and credibility.

Confidentiality provides my clients with safety and privacy.  For this reason, any limitation on the degree of confidentiality is likely to diminish the usefulness of counselling and support services provided by me.

I adhere to the guidelines of the National Counselling Society (NCS) on confidentiality and best practice.

I will treat with confidence any personal information about clients.  Such information may include name, address, biographical details and other details of their personal circumstances which may result in identifying the client.

I attend clinical supervision on a monthly basis to provide optimum help and support to clients.  I will not identify specific clients with supervisors or third parties without the client’s consent. 

I will take care to ensure that personally identifiable information is handled with care.

In order to protect the confidentiality of my clients, I will allocate each client with a reference number that will be used in all correspondence relating to them.  Identifying names, telephone numbers and addresses will not be used in correspondence, except where this communication is:

• To the client themselves 

• To third parties with the client’s consent 

• Where communication with third parties is indicated, this will be done with the consent of the client.  Consent will be written where possible; if verbal consent is obtained this will be recorded where possible and clearly written in the case notes. 

Exceptions to Confidentiality Rules

I will break confidentiality in the following circumstances:

• If I am concerned a client is a danger to themselves or others or they are going to be harmed by someone.  In this instance, I will contact the client’s emergency contact, if appropriate, and the client’s GP and my clinical supervisor for advice.

• I am required under relevant legislation to disclose information about acts of terrorism (including plans/intentions for future terrorist acts) and the plans to commit crimes to the police as soon as practicable and not to prejudice the investigation by informing any other person, including the client, that I have/will make this disclosure.

• If you have asked me to speak to someone on your behalf, this request will take the form of a written record of what topics I can speak about and will be signed by my client and me, where possible.  If this is not possible, verbal consent will be obtained, recorded where possible and clearly written in the case notes. 

• If I am compelled to share information under a Court Order or some such legal requirement, I will speak to the client to inform them of the situation as consent will not be required.