Privacy Policy Statement for Help Me To Talk
When you use Help Me To Talk you trust us with your information. This privacy policy is meant to help you understand what data we collect, why we collect it, and what we do with it. We have tried to make it as simple as possible but if you have any questions please contact us.
Ali Cordery and Naomi Jardine assume the function of data controller and supervise the compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within the business.
- Information we collect
- Where we get our information
- How we use the information we collect
- Information we share
- How and when consent is obtained
- How we protect your data
- Protecting your rights to data
- Security of your personal data
1 Information we collect
Help Me To Talk holds personal data as part of conducting a professional service. The data follows under the following headings: healthcare records, educational records, clinical records, general administrative records, and financial records.
1.1 Healthcare records
A healthcare record refers to all information collected, processed and held both in manual and electronic formats pertaining to the service user and their care. Speech and language problems can be complex, and a wide range of information may be collected in order to best meet the needs of the client, and to maintain a high quality service which meets best practice requirements. In order to provide a high quality service, a range of information may be collected.
Examples of data collected and held on all current and active clients include the following:
- Contact details: Name, address, phone numbers, e-mail address,
- Personal details: date of birth,
- Other contacts: name and contact details of GP and any other relevant healthcare professionals involved.
For child services:
- Parent/guardian details
- Description of family
- Educational placements.
- Pre- and post-natal history: This can include information relating to mother’s pregnancy, and child’s birth.
- Developmental data: developmental milestones, feeding history, audiology history, growth charts.
- Medical details: such as any relevant illnesses, medications, and relevant family history. Reports from other relevant medical and allied health professionals such as: Audiology, Psychology, CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services), Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Ophthalmology, Paediatricians.
1.2 Educational records
Relevant Individual Educational Plans (IEPs), progress notes from educational staff and school reports may be held.
1.3 Clinical records
Specific data in relation to feeding and communication skills may be collected and held, such as assessment forms, reports, case notes, e-mails, text messages and transcripts of phone. Audio and video files may also be collected and stored.
1.4 General administrative records
Help Me To Talk may hold information regarding attendance reports and accident report forms.
1.5 Financial records
A financial record pertains to all financial information concerning the practice, e.g. invoices, receipts, information for Revenue. Help Me To Talk may hold data in relation to: on-line purchasing history, card payments, bank details, receipts and invoices. Information will include name of bill payer, client name, address and record of invoices and payments made.
2 Where we get our information
Personal data will be provided by the client, or in the case of a child (under 16 years), their parent(s)/guardian(s). This information will be collected as part of a case history form prior to, or on the date of first contact.
Information may also be provided directly from relevant third parties such as schools, medical professionals and allied health professionals, with prior consent from the parent(s)/guardian(s).
3 How we use the information that we collect
We use the information we collect to provide assessment and therapy as per the relevant professional guidelines, as well as to maintain the general running of the business, such as running our electronic booking system, keeping our accounts and updating you of any changes in policies or fees.
Information may also be used for research purposes, with the written consent of the client or parent/guardian.
3.1 Data retention periods
The retention periods are the suggested time periods for which the records should be held based on the organisation’s needs, legal and/or fiscal precedence or historical purposes. Following the retention deadline, all data will be destroyed under confidential means.
3.2 Client Records
3.2.1 Clinical Records
Help Me To Talkkeeps both physical and electronic records of clinical data in order to provide a service.
- The preferred format for clinical data is electronic
- Clinical data is electronically archived after 2 years from last invoiced session. (Usually post discharge).
- Clinical data used for research purposes, may be kept for longer than 2 years.
- Video records/ voice recordings relating to client care/videoconferencing records may be recorded with consent, analysed and then destroyed. If written consent is provided to use recordings for training purposes, the client will have the option to withdraw consent at any time.
3.2.2 Financial Records
Help Me To Talk keeps electronic/paper records of financial data from those who use our services.
Section 886 of the Direct Tax Acts states that the Revenue Commissioners require records to be retained for a minimum period of six years after the completion of the transactions, acts or operations to which they relate. These requirements apply to manual and electronic records equally.
- Financial Data is kept for 6 years to adhere to Revenue guidelines.
- Financial Data (including non-payment of bills) can be given to Revenue at Revenue’s request.
3.2.3 Contact Data
Contact Data is kept for 6 years to allow processing of Financial Data if required. (This may be retained for longer for safety, legal request, or child protection reasons.)
3.3 Exceptions
If under investigation or if litigation is likely, files must be held in original form indefinitely, otherwise files are held for the minimum periods set out above.
4 Information we share
We do not share personal information with companies, organisations and individuals outside Help Me To Talk unless one of the following circumstances apply:
4.1 With your consent:
We will only share your Personal Identifying Information (PII) to third parties when we have express written permission by letter or email to do so. We require opt-in consent for the sharing of any sensitive information.
Third parties may include: hospitals, GPs, other allied health professionals, educational facilities.
4.2 For legal reasons:
We will share personal information with companies or organisations outside of Help Me To Talk if disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:
- Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
- Meet the requirements of the Children First Act 2015.
- To protect against harm to the rights, property or safely of Help Me To Talk our service users or the public as required or permitted by law.
4.3 For processing by third parties/external processing
The following third parties are engaged for processing data:
Who | Type of data | Purpose |
My Therapy Tracker | Clinical record keeping | Storing data |
Quikbooks | Contact information | Storing data |
Dropbox | Clinical record keeping | Storing data |
5 How and when we obtain consent
Prior to initial assessment or consultation, a link to the data protection policy will be provided to clients along with a consent form. The consent form will need to be signed by the client prior to commencing the service. Copies of the signed consent forms and client contract will be given to both parties.
Should a client wish to withdraw their consent for data to be processed, they can do so by contacting Help Me To Talk.
6 How we protect your data
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we will endeavour to protect your personal data in a number of ways:
6.1 By limiting the data that we collect in the first instance
All data collected by us will be collected solely for the purposes set out at 1 above and will be collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes. The data will not be processed any further in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes save in the special circumstances referred to in section 5.1. Furthermore, all data collected by us will be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which it is collected which include, inter alia, the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, communication and feeding disorders.
6.2 By transmitting the data in certain specified circumstances only
Data will only be share and transmitted, be it on paper, electronically or text, only as is required, and as set out in section 3.
6.3 By keeping only the data that is required
when it is required and by limiting its accessibility to any other third parties.
6.4 By retaining the data for only as long as is required
which in this case is until the child reaches the age of 18 yearsexcept for circumstances in which retention of data is required in circumstances set out at part 1.1 above or in certain specific circumstances as set out at Article 23(1) of the GDPR.
6.5 By destroying the data securely and confidentially after the period of retention has elapsed.
This could include the use of confidential shredding facilities or, if requested by the individual, the return of personal records to the individual.
6.6 By ensuring that any personal data collected and retained is both accurate and up-to-date.
7 Protecting your Rights to Data
7.1 Children
For children under the age of 16, data access requests are made by their guardians. When a child turns 16, then they may make a request for their personal data. However, this is subject to adherence with the Children First Act.
8 Security
Help Me To Talk as with most providers of healthcare services is aware of the need for privacy. As such, we aim to practice privacy by design as a default approach, and only obtain and retain the information needed to provide you with the best possible service.
All persons working in, and with Help Me To Talk in a professional capacity are briefed on the proper management, storage and safekeeping of data.
All data used by Help Me To Talk, including personal data may be retained in any of the following formats:
- Electronic Data
- Physical Files
The type of format for storing the data is decided based on the format the data exists in.
Where applicable, Help Me To Talk may convert physical files to electronic records to allow us to provide a better service to clients.
8.1 Data Security
Help Me To Talkunderstands that the personal data used in order to provide a service belongs to the individuals involved. The following outlines the steps which Help Me To Talkuse to ensure that the data is kept safe.
8.1.1 Electronic Data
All electronic data is contained in the following systems: My Therapy Tracker, Quikbooks software, Dropbox as well as email Systems.
8.1.2 Physical Files
All physical data is limited and is located at:
– 37 Links Drive, Radlett, WD7 8BD or 22 Parott Grove, Marston Mortaine, MK43 0GT
– These systems are physically located at homes of Ali Cordery and Naomi Jardine
– Only Ali Cordery and Naomi Jardine working at Help Me To Talk have access to these records.
– These records are kept in a container secured with a lock and key.
8.2 Security Policy
8.2.1 Help Me To Talk understands that requirements for electronic and physical storage may change with time. As such, Help Me To Talk reviews the electronic and physical storage options available to Help Me To Talk every 2 years.
8.2.2 All physical devices used by persons working in Help Me To Talk which may contain any identifiable PII are not enabled with loss theft tracking and remote wipe abilities. Therapists will delete all PII from devices once uploaded onto the electronic storage system.
8.2.3 All persons working in Help Me To Talk are aware and briefed on and refresh the requirements for good data hygiene every year This includes, but is not limited to:
§ Awareness of client conversations in unsecure locations.
§ Enabling auto-lock on devices when leaving them unattended, even within Help Me To Talk locations.
§ Use of non-identifiable note taking options.
§ The awareness of Help Me To Talk procedure should a possible data breach occur, either through malicious (theft) or accident (loss) of devices or physical files.
Date of document: 13th April 2020
Review Date: April 2022