Data Collection and Privacy Policy
At Silver Penguin Family Therapy, your privacy is important to me. I am committed to protecting the personal information you share with me and handling it respectfully, securely and in accordance with UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.
Information I collect
When you contact me or access counselling, I may collect information including:
- Your name, contact details and date of birth.
- Parent or carer details where appropriate.
- Information provided through enquiries, assessment forms and counselling agreements.
- Relevant information about your physical or mental health, neurodivergence, disability, medication or family circumstances.
- Brief and appropriate counselling records and administrative information relating to appointments and payments.
Some of this information, particularly information concerning physical or mental health, is classed as special category data and receives additional protection under data protection law.
Why I use your information
Your information is used only where there is an appropriate lawful basis, including where necessary to:
- Respond to enquiries and arrange counselling.
- Provide counselling safely and appropriately.
- Maintain appropriate professional and clinical records.
- Manage appointments, payments and administration.
- Meet professional, safeguarding, insurance, legal or regulatory responsibilities.
I only collect and retain information that is reasonably necessary for these purposes.
Confidentiality and sharing information
Counselling is confidential, and I will not ordinarily share your personal information with another person or organisation without your knowledge or agreement.
There are limited circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken, including where I believe that a child or adult is at serious risk of harm, where there is a safeguarding concern, or where disclosure is required by law.
Wherever reasonably possible, I will discuss this with you before sharing information.
Children and young people
Silver Penguin Family Therapy takes particular care when handling information belonging to children and young people.
Information will be explained and handled in a way that is appropriate to the child's or young person's age and understanding. The privacy and confidentiality of young clients will be respected while also taking account of parental responsibility, safeguarding responsibilities and the individual child's capacity and best interests.
Keeping your information secure
Personal information and counselling records are stored securely, with appropriate measures in place to protect them from unauthorised access, loss or disclosure.
Records are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to meet professional, insurance and legal requirements and are then securely deleted or destroyed.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have rights relating to your personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:
- Ask what personal information I hold about you.
- Request a copy of your personal information.
- Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
- Request deletion or restriction of your information in certain circumstances.
- Object to certain uses of your information.
- Raise a concern about how your information has been handled.
To exercise any of these rights or make a data protection complaint, please contact Silver Penguin Family Therapy using the contact details provided on this website. I will acknowledge and respond to data protection complaints in accordance with current UK data protection requirements.
You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.
Website and cookies
The Silver Penguin Family Therapy website may use essential cookies required for the website to operate. Where optional cookies, analytics or similar technologies are used, appropriate information and choices will be provided.
Contact
If you have any questions about this policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Rebecca Homewood
Silver Penguin Family Therapy
Email: rebecca@silverpenguin.co.uk
Last updated: August 2026