confidentiality Policy

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Confidentiality is of central importance to Open Road Psychotherapy.

The purpose of our confidentiality agreement is to keep everyone as safe as possible and to work in a transparent open way from the start.

What you say to me in sessions is treated as confidential and will not be shared with anyone you have not named by you, without your explicit agreement. There are some important exceptions, in line with common practice, legal obligations and duty of care. 

I do not operate my practice in isolation, and that I am bound by the rules of my registering bodies NCHP/NSTT/Trainee UCKP as well as the laws of the land). 

I am supported by a supervisor as a safety net for my clients, ensuring I am offering the best practice possible. 

In the event of my not being available for a lengthy period, (e.g sudden long-term incapacity, etc.), my supervisor will then have access to client contact details and will be the person to contact you to ensure continuity of care. 

There are some circumstances where I either may need to consider, or be legally obliged to break confidentiality.

These exceptions are to do with significant risk of harm to yourself or somebody else. In this eventuality I would always discuss the issue with you before taking any action; unless to do so would escalate the risk/harm.

I will discuss confidentiality at the start of treatment to check you are in agreement, but in brief:

Cases where I would be required to act would include:

·       If you make me aware of historic or current practices of FGM on minors under the FGM Act 2003

·       Issues arising under the Terrorism Act 2000

·       Significant issues meeting local thresholds of harm arising in relation to at risk adults under the Care Act 2014 or children under the Care Act 2014 and The Children’s Act 2004

·       If I am required to give evidence under a court order

·       Statutory request for access to personal data under The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018

·       Police request for information about the driver of a vehicle at the time of an offence (not parking offences or historic driving offences)

·       Issues arising under the Drug Trafficking Act 1994, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations 2007 – in these cases I may need to seek legal advice to clarify my statutory obligations

Cases where I may need to take advice around acting include:

·       Issues arising under a future or past serious criminal activity that has not been resolved in law e.g. murder, rape, serious fraud etc. 

·       Issues arising of significant harm to the client from others where a safeguarding duty exists e.g. if the client lacks capacity to safeguard themselves

·       Safeguarding concerns where appropriate authorities are already involved

You may elect for me to speak with named others such as your GP or other professionals you work with, as well as family members./partners (e.g. to leave messages with).  Those named would be added to our confidentiality agreement. 

Finally, I will revisit the issue of confidentiality in sessions as needed and as a way of reminding you around the limits to confidentiality and review the agreement at intervals to make sure it stays relevant to the your needs and in line with any changes to the law or regulatory guidelines