Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

Policy statement

Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services collects and stores information so it can provide a safe working environment, high quality services and meet its legal requirements.

Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services manages personal information in accordance with relevant legislation and disposal guidelines.

This policy supports Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services to apply National Standards

Disability Services: Standard 1: Rights and into the future, National Disability Insurance Scheme Practice Standards: 1. Rights and Responsibilities (Privacy and Dignity); 3. Provision of Supports (Access to Supports) were appropriate.  

Scope

This policy applies to the owner of the business. It includes confidentiality of information about the people Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services support and the people who work with Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services.

Principles

• Personal information is collected with consent and is used where the information is needed to provide services and meet compliance requirements.
• Information is protected from misuse, loss and unauthorised access.
• Information not needed by Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services is destroyed as soon as practicable in a way that complies with all legal and compliance requirements.
• Reasonable steps are taken to ensure information is complete, current and accurate.
• Personal information is only ever released if required by law, agreed to through the informed consent of the individual or if a person requests to see their own personal file (a minimum of one hour consult fee is charged for the time is takes to enable the individual to peruse their file notes at the practice, costs pro rata on time spend).
• My service to you is confidential. That means that information about you will not be shared without your permission (verbal or in writing). There is an exemption to that: if I have serious concerns about your safety, someone in your environment or property, I am obligated to notify appropriate services. Rest assured that this rarely happens and in principle I would notify you first if I really believe it would be necessary to do so.
• For reasons of potential serious concern about you I will ask you about next of kin details. Confidentiality does not apply when the person attending is at risk of harming themselves, others or property. In that case appropriate people or organisations will be contacted to ensure the safety of all.
• Personal information will not be disclosed to other parties or used for direct marketing without permission.
• Any type of testimony required in Court will incur a $4500 up front fee for the first 15 minutes of contact, plus the hourly rate per portion of each hour spend, potential travel and accommodation costs all inclusive to be paid by whomever subpoenas.

Key actions/Procedures

People are asked to take note of this policy when they first use Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services services. Your consent is obtained when you sign up and reply to me that you consent to this policy, please ensure you understand this policy before doing so.

The practitioner is required to ensure objective, detailed, accurate and up-to-date records and information are maintained to meet legal, contractual and mandatory reporting requirements. All requests for correction are processed in conjunction with privacy legislation as soon as practicable.   Information about a person sent or received via email is recorded in the secured electronic client database and then deleted.

In some circumstances access to personal information may be denied. There may be real concerns that access to certain information could pose a serious threat to the life, health or safety of an individual, or to public health or public safety or have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of other people. The practitioner will consider all the circumstances and make this decision. Where access to information is not provided, the practitioner will provide a formal response explaining why access has been denied.

Feedback and Complaints

If either the client or the practitioner experiences problems or issues they are expected to be raised with the other party seeking a resolution. If for some reason this is too difficult, either can appoint a third party for support – consent of the other party needs to be given before engaging third parties.  If a resolution cannot be found, one can turn to the NDIS or to the Australian Association for Social Workers or to the Attorney General Department (whichever is the organisation most suited to the type of support provided). Contact details for these organisations will be provided upon request.

Definitions

Confidential Information: any information that identifies a person

Informed consent: voluntary agreement and/or action where the person making the decision has appropriate information, understands the consequences of the decision and capacity to make the decision

Related legislation and standards

• Carers’ Recognition Act 2004
• Disability Services Act 1993 (WA)
• Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)
• Fair Work Act 2009
• NDIS Act 2013
• National Standards for Disability Services
• NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Practice Standards 2018
• Privacy Act 1988

Approvals

Date of review: each calendar year

Signature of owner of Integrative Counselling & Mediation Services: