Crafty Counselling is required to collect certain personal information to provide the services you request. This Collection Notice explains the types of personal information we collect about you, why we collect it and how it will be used and disclosed.
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CLIENT CONSENT INFORMATION
You (and/or the child/young person in your care) consent to engage in therapeutic supports, understanding that this service incorporates a range of approaches and therapies supported by Social Work practices with the aim of reducing distress and promoting wellbeing.
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CONFIDENTIALITY AND DUTY OF CARE
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As guided by Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and Practice Standards, any personal information gathered during the process of engaging in therapeutic support will remain confidential, private. Social Work standards advise, that social work records should be kept for a period of 7 years following the last contact with the client, and further recommends that records relating to children should be kept until the child or young person would turn 25 years old.
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You have the right to access your information and can ask your therapist for this at any time. No one else will have access to your information with the exception of third parties being granted access by way of court subpoena or with your consent if you are referred to another practitioner for example.
If you are a child’s parent/carer/guardian, the therapist does not disclose confidential information with you without consent from the child, with the exception of Duty of Care if the need arose to report to relevant people/authorities any concern that the child is either at risk of harm, or in danger of harming themselves or others.
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The program used for storing data is called Halaxy, ensuring data is backed up and protected by bank grade security and encryption here in Australia. You can read further information below;
https://www.halaxy.com/article/security
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CANCELLATIONS, PAYMENTS AND ENDING SUPPORT
Where possible, please advise within 24 hrs of the scheduled appointment if unable to attend, this allows for another person to access the service. A late cancellation/missed appointment fee of 50% of the session cost may apply if cancellation is not advised within 24 hrs (unless in emergency situations such as illness/minimising COVID-19 risk).
Your agreement to participate in counselling is on a voluntary basis and you have the right to stop at any time or to request another therapist who may be better suited to your needs. You can do this by contacting your therapist if you feel comfortable to do so or your funding provider such as Victims Services or NDIS plan Manager.
COVID19 (UPDATED 19th November 2022)
Holding a lens of Duty of Care in preventing risk of vulnerable clients contracting COVID19, prior to your appointment your therapist will send a confirmation SMS asking if there is imminent COVID19 risk you are aware of. Please advise of any risk at this time to ensure the safety of other members of the community and your therapist. Your therapist will conduct a risk assessment on a case by case basis.
Your therapist may decide to conduct sessions via Telehealth rather than in person to minimise risk;
• when there is imminent risk in the local community,
• if you or anyone you have been in contact with is displaying symptoms,
• if you are awaiting COVID19 test results,
• if you are isolating due to being a close contact.
TELEHEALTH
If you agree to engage in Telehealth please ensure you have a quiet, confidential space to attend your session and your therapist will do the same.
Please note some barriers to telehealth which may include;
• difficulty engaging with your therapist without being face-to-face in the same room,
• technical problems with mobile reception or Wi-Fi
• an extremely rare risk of outside hackers tapping into phone/video call
I look forward to engaging in therapeutic support with you, please feel free to have a look at my website if you would like to learn a bit more about me, my experience and qualifications:
https://www.craftycounselling.com.au/about
Please sign below to acknowledge you have read and understood the information provided or make contact if you have any enquiries.