Privacy policy

Privacy Policy for Highland Psychological Services

At Highland Psychological Services, we prioritise your privacy and the security of your data. This policy explains how we collect, use, and store your personal information, as well as your rights regarding the data you provide to us. We fully comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 to ensure your information is handled securely and transparently. We are also registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to uphold the highest standards of data protection.

Data Protection

Our privacy policy ensures that any data collected during your therapy or through our website is handled securely and appropriately. This includes information shared via telephone, email, or online platforms.

We may collect personal data such as:

  • Name

  • Contact information (phone number, email address, home address, postcode)

  • Any additional information relevant to your therapy

In compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018, we strictly adhere to the following principles:

  • Data is used fairly, lawfully, and transparently.

  • Data is collected for specified and legitimate purposes.

  • Data is accurate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary.

  • Data is kept secure and protected against unauthorized access or misuse.

  • Data is stored no longer than necessary and deleted securely when no longer required.

Your Rights

Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights:

  • The right to be informed about how your data is used

  • The right to access your personal data

  • The right to correct inaccurate or outdated information

  • The right to request the deletion of your data

  • The right to restrict or object to the processing of your data

  • The right to data portability, allowing you to access and reuse your data

  • The right to object to decisions made through automated processing or profiling

You may exercise these rights at any time by contacting us at info@highlandpsychologicalservices.co.uk. If you have any concerns about how we handle your data, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via their website: www.ico.org.uk.

How We Store and Protect Your Data

  1. Secure Storage:

    • Personal information and client records are stored in locked cabinets and/or password-protected systems.

    • Client session notes are anonymized and stored separately from personal data.

  2. Retention Policy:

    • Data is retained for a maximum of 6 years following the last point of contact unless otherwise requested. After this period, all paper records are securely shredded, and electronic data is permanently deleted.

  3. Diary Records:

    • Appointment records are anonymized using only client initials.

  4. Personal information will only be shared in the following cases.

    • At your request or with your explicit consent

    • If there is a safeguarding concern involving you or another person

    • If legally required (e.g., by a court order or other legal obligation)

What We Use Your Information For

We collect and process your data to:

  • Make contact with you regarding appointments or queries

  • Record relevant personal details you have provided with your consent

  • Maintain minimal session notes for the purpose of therapy

Confidentiality

All matters discussed during therapy sessions are confidential. Exceptions to this include:

  • Safeguarding concerns where there is a risk to yourself or others

  • Legal obligations requiring disclosure
    In such cases, we will make every effort to discuss this with you before taking any action.

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about this policy or your data rights, please get in touch with us at:
Email: info@highlandpsychologicalservices.co.uk
Phone: 01463 830 747

For further information about data protection and your rights, you can also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via their website: www.ico.org.uk.

Disclaimer

  1. Links on Our Website:
    We may provide links to external websites. Highland Psychological Services is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these external sites.

  2. Technical Issues:
    While we take every effort to maintain the availability of our website, we are not liable for outages caused by technical issues beyond our control.

Amendments to This Policy

We review this privacy policy regularly and may update it to reflect changes in regulations or our business practices. Any updates will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review this page periodically.