School  counselling service  Providing children  with emotional and therapeutic  support ​​  

​P rivacy Notice – How we use student information

Why do we collect and use pupil information

Our counselling service in order to run the service and doing so have to follow the Data protection law 1988 and GDPR. This means, among other things; that the data held about pupils must only be used for specific purposes allowed by law. We are, therefore, writing to tell you about the types of data held, why that data is held, and to whom it may be passed on.

We collect and use pupil information under section 83 of the Children Act 1989. We also comply with Article 6(1)(c) and Article 9(2)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

We use the pupil data:

•to support students emotional health

•to monitor and report on pupil progress in counselling

•to provide appropriate support

•to assess the quality of our services

•to comply with the law regarding data sharing

•to support you to decide what to do after you counselling/support from us .

Categories of client/student information that we collect, hold and share include:

•Personal information (such as name, unique client number and contact details)

•Characteristics (such as ethnicity, language, nationality, country of birth and free school meal eligibility)

•Attendance information (such as sessions attended, number of absences and absence reasons)

•Special educational needs information

•Relevant medical information

Collecting student information

Whilst the majority of client information you provide to us is mandatory, some of it is provided to us on a voluntary basis. In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, we will inform you whether you are required to provide certain student information to us or if you have a choice in this.

Storing student information

Space4u counselling keeps information about you in secure files Encryption and passwords are used. .

We hold your records securely and retain them for 7 years or until until you reach the age of 18 , after which they are safely destroyed.

There are strict controls on who can see your information. We will not share your data if you have advised us that you do not want it shared unless it is the only way we can make sure you stay safe and healthy or we are legally required to do so.

Who do we share student information with?

Confidentiality regarding information collected is critical in our work ethically and lawfully. We abide by the BACP good practice guidelines.

Sharing of student information is limited.

We share it will selected people within the organisation in order to run the service.

If there is a risk to the student by themselves or to others then relevant organisations will be given information. This includes specific people in.

NHS

Police

Social services

Educational establishments.

Why we share student information

We do not share information about our clients with anyone without consent unless the law and our policies allow us to do so.

Requesting access to your personal data

Under data protection legislation, parents and clients have the right to request access to information about them that we hold. To make a request for your personal information contact us at space4u counselling Ltd

You also have the right to:

•object to the processing of personal data that is likely to cause, or is causing, damage or distress

•prevent processing for the purpose of direct marketing

•object to decisions being taken by automated means

•in certain circumstances have inaccurate personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed; and

•claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the Data Protection regulations

Please note that all rights under the Data Protection Act to do with information about your child rest with them as soon as they are old enough to understand these rights. This will vary from one child to another and you will wish to consider the position for your child but, as a broad guide, it is reckoned that most children will have a sufficient understanding by the age of 12. We would therefore encourage you to share this note with your child if they are aged 12 or over.

If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, you should raise your concern with us in the first instance or directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office

Email: office@space4uproject.org.uk