Privacy, Consent & Confidentiality
Your privacy and trust are important to me.
Recovery For You Coaching handles personal information carefully and respectfully. This page explains, in straightforward terms, how information is used, how confidentiality works and the circumstances in which information may need to be shared.
Your information
When you contact Recovery For You Coaching or begin working with me, I may need to collect information such as your:
- name and contact details
- emergency contact details where appropriate
- appointment and programme information
- relevant recovery and substance-use information
- goals and areas you would like support with
- session notes
- payment and agreement records
- information relating to safeguarding or other professionals involved, where relevant
I only collect information that is reasonably needed to provide and manage your coaching support.
How your information is used
Your information may be used to:
- arrange and manage appointments
- provide your 1:1 recovery coaching
- maintain appropriate coaching records
- communicate with you between sessions
- manage agreements and payments
- support continuity between sessions
- respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
- meet legal or professional responsibilities where required
Your information will not be sold or used for unrelated marketing purposes.
Confidentiality
What you discuss during coaching is treated as confidential.
I understand that being able to speak openly is an important part of recovery support, and information will not normally be shared with other people without your knowledge and consent.
However, confidentiality cannot be absolute.
There may be circumstances where I need to share relevant information if I believe:
- there is a serious or immediate risk of harm to you
- there is a serious or immediate risk of harm to another person
- a child or vulnerable person may be at risk of abuse or neglect
- I am legally required to disclose information
Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, I would aim to discuss this with you first.
Consent
Before beginning ongoing coaching, you will be asked to read and agree to the relevant coaching, privacy and consent information.
Your consent helps ensure that you understand how the service works, how your information is handled and the boundaries of confidentiality.
You can ask questions about this at any time.
Where another professional is involved in your care or support, I would normally seek your permission before contacting or sharing information with them unless there is a safeguarding or legal reason that means this is not possible.
Session records
Brief records may be kept following coaching sessions to support continuity and help us review your progress.
These records are kept separately and are intended to provide an accurate record of the work we have done together.
Information is stored as securely as reasonably possible and access is restricted.
Online communication
Recovery For You Coaching uses online systems for areas such as appointments, email, video calls and client administration.
Reasonable steps are taken to keep personal information secure, but no electronic communication system can be guaranteed to be completely risk-free.
Please avoid sending highly sensitive or urgent information through ordinary messaging if another form of contact would be more appropriate.
WhatsApp support
Where WhatsApp support is agreed as part of your programme, it is intended for support between sessions and is not an emergency or crisis service.
I aim to respond within 24 hours, although messages received later in the day may be answered the following day.
If you need urgent medical, mental health or emergency assistance, you should contact the appropriate healthcare or emergency service.
Your choices and rights
You can ask what personal information Recovery For You Coaching holds about you and raise any concerns about how your information is being handled.
You may also have rights under UK data protection law regarding access, correction, restriction or deletion of personal information, depending on the circumstances and any legal or record-keeping requirements that apply.
If you have a privacy question, you can contact:
A final note
Privacy and confidentiality are an important part of creating a safe and respectful coaching relationship.
If anything on this page is unclear, you are welcome to ask about it before or during your work with Recovery For You Coaching.