What we offer

We offer counselling to people experiencing a wide range of concerns. However, if we feel we cannot provide assistance, we will suggest an alternative.

Appointments will take place at a mutually agreed time and place between the client and the counsellor, but, wherever possible, this will take place on the same day at the same time each week, each session will last 50 minutes.

All staff are bound by a strict confidentiality policy. However, there are exceptions to this.

Supervision

• From time to time, the counsellor will discuss his/her work with a clinical supervisor, this is standard practice, and helps maintain the quality of work with clients. I will not use your full name or say more details about you than I need to.

Crime

• If requested by a court of law to give evidence (e.g. In criminal proceedings).

 Harm

• Confidentiality may be broken in order to prevent serious harm to yourself or others. However, we would only do this in extreme circumstances and always try to discuss this with the client, before taking any action. This is accordance with the BACP (B.A.C.P, 2010) Ethical Framework.

Child protection

• Child welfare: confidentiality will be broken if the counsellor believes that a child is at risk of serious harm. Eleos counselling reserves the right to break confidentiality without the consent of the client, in the case of the child protection issue. This is in line with the government guidelines for professionals: every child matters.

 

• Statutory obligation to disclose

The Terrorism Act 2000 s38B/s19

Drug trafficking Act 1994

Proceeds of crime Act 2002

The Money Laundering Regulation 2007

Road Traffic Act 1991 s21

Children Act 1989 S51(3)(C)

Serious crimes Act 2007

 

Explicit and implicit consent

• If a client consents to refer on or to change in the confidentiality agreement, consent to share information about the client with other outside agencies, e.g. mental health teams, social workers, GPs, and legal representation. The client will be asked to sign a disclosure document, which will be kept on the client’s records.

 

The Caldicott principles, relating to sharing information between agencies will apply. Developed by the Caldicott committee these are

Principle one: justified the purpose(s) for using confidential information

Principle Two: only use it when absolutely necessary

Principle three: use minimum that is required.

Principle Four: access should be on a strict need-to-know basis

Principle Five: everyone must understand his or her own responsibility

Principle Six: understanding and complying with law 

Electronic communication

• It is important to note that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed on emails, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.

 

If we meet outside the counselling room

If we meet outside the counselling, I will not acknowledge you, as many people want to be private about coming to counselling. If you want to acknowledge me, though, that would be, fine and I would then also acknowledge you.

Social media and social networking

Clients are asked not to contact the counsellor by email or by social media. Eleos counselling will not accept invitations from clients or former clients to connect on social networking sites.

Note Taking

The counsellor will take brief notes after each session; these will be restricted to what is being said and the client has the legal right to look at these. These are kept within the Data Protection Act 1998. These are stored on an encrypted UK cloud-based database; Eleos Counselling is registered with the information Commissioner’s office:  reference registration ZA092013.

What we do not offer

Eleos Counselling is a non-medical service and medical care for the client remains the responsibility of the client’s general practitioner. We have qualified counsellors and councillors in training who receive regular supervision in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the B.A.C.P and in accordance with the B.A.C.P Ethical Framework (B.A.C.P, 2010).

What we expect from you as a client

The cost of counselling will be agreed at an introductory interview and reviewed annual

The current cost of an individual session is…£50.00: Eleos Counselling reserve the right to review this fee annually.

The current cost of couple’s session is…£60.00: Eleos Counselling reserve the right to review this fee annually.

The current cost of individual anger management session is…£50.00: Eleos Counselling reserve the right to review this fee annually.

We need 48 hours’ notice of a cancelled session.  If you give us less notice than this, we will endeavour to find another time within the same week that is convenient for both of us: however, if this is not possible then, the fee will be charged. For this reason, each session has to be paid for. Clients are requested to give their agreed fee to the counsellor at the end of each session, unless an alternative method of payment has been agreed.  Any cancellation outside 48 hours i.e. within 24 hours will be charged for, due to short notice.       (Note: mitigating circumstances will be taken into consideration).

 

Out of hours’ contact

Contact with the counsellor is to be done in normal office hours, which are:  9.00 to 17.30 via mobile phone or land line. Any contact outside this time can be done via the mobile phone number, voicemail or Text; all calls are treated in confidence. Telephone support will be agreed between counsellor and client. (The client may be, charged a fee for this service).

 

Data protection

I have read the information sheet provided, and I agree to the fair and lawful processing of personal information for the process of analysis  , research and record-keeping in accordance with the data protection Act 1998(The Stationery Office Limited, 1998)

I understand that Eleos will be using data collected, for research and evaluation of their service.

Ending Counselling

Prior to ending counselling, it is normal for the client and the counsellor to review the counselling to date, this is normally done over two sessions, before ending counselling completely.  However, more sessions may be necessary, due to the length of time the client has received counselling.

 

Reference

 

B.A.C.P. (2010). An ethical framework for good practice in counselling & therapy. (15th  May ), 1-18. Retrieved from http://www.bacp.co.uk/admin/structure/files/pdf/566_ethical%20framework%20feb2010.pdf

The Stationery Office Limited. (1998). Data Protection Act  (1998). Retrieved from http//: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukga19980029_en_1.

Glossary of terms used

Client records a generic term that includes all records, notes, recordings, memorabilia, correspondence, photographs, artefacts and videos or audio recordings related to an identifiable client whether factual or process related and in whatever form, they are kept.

Circle of Confidentiality: a group of people is sharing confidential information with the client’s consent, for example, a healthcare team or local mental health team.

Data defined in section 1 (1) of the Data Protection Act 1998

Data to mean information held by a person that is processing automatically is part of a relevant filing system or is part of an accessible record. Data may, therefore, include computer-based records and certain manual records, tape, video and audio recordings, photographs, etc. An item data otherwise denotes a collection of statistics or other information gathered in the course of research, or during therapy.

Explicit consent: A term used in the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) to mean consent that is absolutely clear and specific about what it covers i.e. not implied from surrounding circumstances explicit consent may be given orally but for the avoidance of doubt Eleos counselling will require this in writing.

Express consent involves active information, which is usually expressed orally or in writing. If clients cannot write, read, or speak other forms of unequivocal communications of consent may be sufficient.