CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY 

Confidentiality Principle 

Serendipity Counselling (UK) offers confidential counselling services to its clients in accordance with the ethical requirements of the BACP*.    

Ownership of Information Information passed to Serendipity Counselling (UK) in the course of their work is deemed to have been passed to Serendipity Counselling (UK)  to be used, or not, within reason based on the nature of the information and work being done, unless the ‘giver’ of said information specifically requests it not be shared and the information does not indicate risk to the ‘giver’ or another.  The ‘giver’ of the information remains the owner.  

Disclosing Information Relevant stakeholders will be informed of any reasonably foreseeable limitations of privacy or confidentiality in advance of working with Serendipity Counselling (UK), for example Supervision or training and in circumstances including the risk of harm to individuals or as required by law.  This will not be considered a breach of confidentiality; however, the information remains personal and private and in the control of the ‘giver’.  

Should it be necessary to disclose personally identifiable details of a client or their counselling to a third party or external organisation outside of the above circumstances, clients will be informed and required to give their written consent before information is disclosed.  The client must be kept informed of any issues concerning confidentiality and disclosure in relation to their counselling. 

Risk will always override confidentiality.  The counsellor must discuss any disclosure requests with their Supervisor before taking any action.  

In line with the BACP’s Code of Ethics, GPs will be informed their patient is receiving counselling following, only where risk has been identified.  No further details will be disclosed without the client’s consent and the client is informed of this in writing. 

Where email is used as a form of communication about specific clients, information contained will be anonymised, using only client initials and appointment time-slot.  

The client’s individual counselling contract will contain details of the confidentiality boundaries that apply to that counselling referral. 

Disclosure of information procedure 

In the rare event when information needs to be disclosed to an external authority, such as a GP, the following

procedure is recommended 

• Counsellor to discuss the situation with their Supervisor, or where necessary another Supervisor

• Where the Supervisor cannot resolve the situation then relevant external

professional/legal advice will be taken in confidence to resolve the situation. 

• The counsellor will have the decision and the reasons for it explained to them, within confidentiality restraints of any external organisation involved.  

• Serendipity Counselling (UK)  will make every effort to resolve situations as quickly as possible. 

• Each case will be considered on its individual merits.  Where risk is identified, whether threats of suicide or physical harm to another, it is imperative that disclosure is discussed with the Client and where possible, consent for disclosure obtained.  In addition to these procedures, the following comments are offered for guidance: 

• In cases where after the recommended procedure has been followed, a child is felt to be at risk or in danger, the welfare of the child is paramount (CA 1989) and Social Services must be informed  

Storing Information Where appropriate, personal information about stakeholders is anonymised and securely stored electronically in a password protected data drive.  Electronic records are maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulations 2018.  An individual who is the subject of a computer record is entitled under the Act to access their record, as well as the right to erase, amend or restrict the processing of the data held under these regulations. Serendipity Counselling (UK) will immediately inform anyone if their data confidentiality has been breached. 

BACP’S Definitions 

*Confidentiality as defined by BACP is the protection of information that has been communicated in the expectation that it will not be disclosed to others.  

Reasonably foreseeable limitations to confidentiality. 

Any limitations that a reasonably competent practitioner ought to be able to anticipate as causing difficulties in protecting clients’ confidences, for example, arising from legal or contractual obligations to disclose confidential information or to protect people from serious harm. Some situations that arise in practice may be so unexpected or exceptional that they are not considered to be reasonably foreseeable. 

Breaching confidentiality  

Disclosing something that has been communicated in confidence by mutual agreement or with the expectation

that it will be kept secret. The expectation of secrecy may have been stated expressly or implied. Confidentiality

is breached when any disclosure is made without the consent of the person concerned, legal authorisation or

being legally defensible in the public interest. Breaches can occur accidentally or deliberately. In most

circumstances, obtaining the consent of the person concerned provides an ethical way of avoiding a breach of

confidentiality. Any disclosure of confidential information requires respecting the possible rights to

confidentiality of any third person who is identifiable within the disclosure.