Website Privacy and Use Policy

The Policy

This privacy policy is for this website and governs the privacy of its users who choose to use it. It explains how we comply with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the DPA (Data Protection Act) [pre GDPR enforcement] and the PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations). This policy will explain areas of this website that may affect your privacy and personal details, how we process, collect, manage and store those details and how your rights under the GDPR, DPA & PECR are adhered to. Additionally, it will explain the use of cookies or software, advertising or commercial sponsorship from third parties and the download of any documents, files or software made available to you (if any) on this website. Further explanations may be provided for specific pages or features of this website to help you understand how this website and its third parties (if any) interact with you and your computer / device. Please contact us by email if you have any questions.

Use of Cookies

This website uses cookies to improve the users experience while visiting the website. As required by legislation, where applicable this website uses a cookie control system, allowing the user to give explicit permission or to deny the use of /saving of cookies on their computer / device.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small files saved to a website users computer / device that track, save and store information about the user's interactions and usage of the website. This allows the website to provide the users with a more tailored experience. Users are advised that if they wish to deny the use and saving of cookies from this website on to their computers hard drive they should take necessary steps within their web browsers security settings to block all cookies from this website and its external serving vendors or use the cookie control system if available upon their first visit.

Website Visitor Tracking

This website may use tracking software to better understand how it is being used. The software will save a cookie to your computer’s hard drive to track and monitor your engagement and usage of the website, but will not store, save or collect personal information.

Adverts and Sponsored Links

This website may contain sponsored links and adverts. These will typically be served through third party organisations, who may have detailed privacy policies relating directly to the adverts they serve. Clicking on any such sponsored links or adverts will send you to the advertisers website through a referral program which may use cookies and will track the number of referrals sent from this website. This may include the use of cookies which may in turn be saved on your computers hard drive. Users should therefore note they click on sponsored external links at their own risk and we cannot be held liable for any damages or implications caused by visiting any external links mentioned.

Downloads

Any downloadable documents, files or media made available on this website are provided to users at their own risk. While all precautions have been undertaken to ensure only genuine downloads are available, users are advised to verify their authenticity using third party anti-virus software or similar applications. We accept no responsibility for third party downloads and downloads provided by external third party websites and advise users to verify their authenticity using third party anti-virus software or similar applications.

Contact & Communication With Us

Users contacting us through this website do so at their own discretion and provide any such personal details requested at their own risk. Your personal information is kept private and stored securely until a time it is no longer required or has no use. Where we have clearly stated and made you aware of the fact, and where you have given your express permission, we may use your details to send you additional information through a mailing list system. This is done in accordance with the regulations named in 'The policy' above.

Email Mailing List & Marketing Messages

We operate an email mailing list program (‘Email Alerts’), used to inform subscribers about events, services and/or news we supply/publish. Users can subscribe to Email Alerts through an online automated process where they have given their explicit permission. Subscribers can unsubscribe at any time through an automated online service, or if not available, by other means as detailed in individual messages sent. The type and content of marketing messages subscribers receive is clearly outlined at the point of subscription.

External Website Links & Third Parties

Although we only look to include quality, safe and relevant external links, users are advised to adopt a policy of caution before clicking any external web links mentioned throughout this website. Shortened URL's - URL shortening is a technique used on the web to shorten URL's (Uniform Resource Locators) to something substantially shorter. This technique is especially used in social media and looks like this (example: http://bit.ly/zyVUBo). Users should take caution before clicking on shortened URL links and verify their authenticity before proceeding. We cannot guarantee or verify the contents of any externally linked website. Users should therefore note they click on external links at their own risk and we cannot be held liable for any damages or implications caused by visiting any external links mentioned.

FCS Data Protection Policy (GDPR)

FCS provides a wide range of services to many people. FCS may record information about you and the services that you receive.

What are the data protection laws in the UK?

The Data Protection Act 2018 (“the Act”) is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The UK GDPR is the retained EU law version of the General Data Protection Regulation. The GDPR and the Act are designed to protect personal data and enhance individual rights. This covers information about any natural person, no matter how it is used, what it is used for or who uses it. 

How does the GDPR and Act protect personal data about you?

The GDPR and Act sets rules and conditions which organisations must obey when obtaining and processing information about you. They also provide you with certain rights, which must be respected. We are obliged to tell you what to expect when we collect your personal data.

What are your rights to accessing your personal records under the GDPR?

Your rights to access your personal record would depend on the legal basis FCS obtained, and is processing your data. FCS provides a wide range of services and relies on different legal bases under the GDPR for processing personal data. Bearing these in mind, you have the following rights:

• You have the right to ask FCS whether it holds personal information about you;

• To be given a description of the personal data, any available detail as to the source of that information, details about the purposes for which the FCS uses the information or may be processed and the persons or classes of persons to whom the data has been or may be disclosed;

• To be told the envisaged period for which the data will be stored or, if not possible, how it will be decided when it will be destroyed;

• You have the right to erasure which is also known as the ‘right to be forgotten’. This enables you to request the deletion or removal of personal data where there is no compelling reason for its continued processing by FCS;

• You may request that FCS stops processing your personal data in relation to specific FCS services. When processing is restricted, we are allowed to store the personal data but not further process it;

• You have the right to object to processing in certain circumstances. We must stop processing the personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling reason for the processing, which override the public interests, your personal interests, rights and freedoms or the processing is for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims by/against FCS;

• You the right to withdraw consent at any time. But do note that if you withdraw your consent it may be that another reason for processing can be relied on by FCS such as public interest;

• You are entitled to request access to and a copy of any information we hold about you;

• If you find that the information FCS holds about you is no longer accurate, you have the right to ask to have this corrected; and

• You have the right to see CCTV images of yourself and be provided with a copy.

Why does FCS keep personal information?

So that FCS can provide you with the services you require.

Anyone with whom FCS has contact may need to give some basic information about themselves, and their personal and family circumstances. Some people also have to give information about their financial situation. This information is put into a file. Other information can be added, for example, if FCS receives information from a doctor. The file will also include information that you and the relevant service have talked about.

Does FCS need your consent to use information about you for any of these purposes?

In some circumstances we will ask and rely on your consent to use your personal information. However, there are some situations where the law requires us to use information without your consent.

How do you ask to see information about you?

When you want to see your records you need to:

• Write to the CEO Michelle Ford, FCS Talking Therapies, 10 Gatefield Lane, Faversham, ME13 8NX

• Provide FCS with proof of your identity, and proof of your address and details of the information you require.

• The request is free of charge in most cases. However, in some cases such as where the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive, or where you request for additional copies of your data following an initial request, we may charge a “reasonable fee” for administrative costs.

What information will you receive?

You are entitled to:

• Copies of information that FCS holds about you on both computer and paper records.

• A description of the purposes for which FCS uses your information.

• A list of others who may have seen the information. This will be provided within one calendar month, from the day after we receive the request until the corresponding calendar date in the next month. However, we can extend the time to respond by a further two months if the request is complex or where we have received a number of requests from you. Where this is the case, we will let you know within one month of receiving your request and explain the reason for the extension.

Is there any information that you cannot see?

Information is given to FCS by lots of different people and sometimes this information is given in confidence. FCS must respect the wishes of these people and therefore would need to ask their consent to release this information to you.

Confidential information can include that given to FCS by doctors, social workers and the police. FCS can only withhold information according to exemptions in the laws. For example, Data Protection Act 2018 states that we do not have to comply with your request where it is decided that complying would mean disclosing information about another individual who can be identified from that information.

Can other people see your file?

Other people, including members of your family, cannot see your file without your agreement. Likewise, you cannot see information about members of your family without their permission. However those with parental responsibility may see the files of those children who are not of an age to have an understanding of their files. This is on the understanding that the child has not given information that they expect to be kept confidential.

How will you be given the information?

You are entitled to be given a copy to keep and check for accuracy. This will either be a printout from a computer, a photocopy of the paper records or in electronic format if you prefer.

What if you think the information is wrong?

If you think any information recorded about you is wrong, you should inform a member of staff or tell FCS straight away. If FCS does not agree that the information is wrong, you can ask to record your disagreement on your records. You can also appeal to the Information Commissioner or through the courts if FCS does not correct the information.

What if FCS has breached the GDPR?

FCS is compelled by GDPR to notify the ICO of a breach within 72 hours of becoming aware of it, even if we do not have all the details yet. We will also notify you without undue delay, where the breach is of high risk.

If FCS has broken any of the rules or conditions established by the GDPR and the Act, and you have suffered damage or distress you may be able to claim compensation. You may also be able to claim compensation if the damage or distress was caused by FCS processing of your information. Claims are made through the Court. You must be able to prove that FCS had not taken reasonable care.