Policies

Practice Policies

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To support transparency, safety, and a professional therapeutic relationship, Helen Ward Therapy maintains a set of practice policies that explain how therapy services are delivered, how information is managed, and the standards that guide my work.

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These policies are designed to provide clarity around important areas including confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding, complaints, communication, online therapy, and professional boundaries.

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I encourage clients to review these policies alongside the Therapy Agreement. If you have any questions about any of the policies or how they apply to our work together, please feel free to discuss them with me.

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Current practice policies can be accessed by clinking on the policy title below:

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• Privacy Policy
  (How personal information is collected, used, stored, protected, and your rights under UK GDPR.)​

• Data Protection Policy
  (How Helen Ward Therapy manages personal data in accordance with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, ICO guidance, and professional obligations.)

• Data Breach Procedure 
  (The process followed if a personal data breach occurs, including assessment, recording, risk management, and reporting requirements.)

• Confidentiality Policy
  (How confidentiality is maintained, the circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited, and professional supervision requirements.)

• Adult Safeguarding Policy                                                                                                            (How safeguarding concerns involving children, adults at risk, vulnerability, abuse, neglect, or risk of harm are recognised and managed.)

• Child Safeguarding Policy
  (How safeguarding concerns involving children, adults at risk, vulnerability, abuse, neglect, or risk of harm are recognised and managed.)

• Complaints Procedure
  (How clients can raise concerns, how complaints are reviewed, timescales, resolution processes, and routes for escalation including professional bodies.)

• Emergency Contact and Crisis Policy
  (Clarifies that therapy is not an emergency service, what to do in a crisis, and how emergency situations involving client safety may be managed.)

• Cancellation and Fees Policy
  (Details appointment arrangements, cancellation notice requirements, missed sessions, fees, payment terms, and review of fees.)

• Online Therapy Policy
  (Sets out expectations for online sessions including privacy, technology, recording restrictions, client responsibilities, and maintaining a safe therapeutic environment.)

• Data Retention and Secure Disposal Policy
  (Outlines how client records and practice information are retained, reviewed, securely stored, and appropriately destroyed in accordance with legal, regulatory, and professional requirements.)

• Record Keeping Policy
  (Explains how therapy records are created, stored securely, retained, accessed, and disposed of in line with professional and legal requirements.)

• Professional Boundaries Policy
  (Outlines expectations regarding the therapeutic relationship, dual relationships, social media boundaries, and maintaining ethical professional practice.)

• Subject Access Request (SAR) Procedure
  (Explains the process for clients to request access to their personal data, including how requests are received, verified, assessed, responded to, and documented in line with UK GDPR requirements.)

• Clinical Supervision Policy
  (Explains the role of supervision, confidentiality within supervision, and how supervision supports safe and ethical practice.)

• Information Security Procedure
  (Sets out the measures used to protect client and practice information, including secure storage, access controls, digital security, confidentiality safeguards, and management of information security risks.)

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
  (Sets out commitment to respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory therapeutic practice.)

• Lone Working Policy
  (Explains arrangements for maintaining safety when working independently, including risk assessment, personal safety measures, emergency procedures, and steps to take in the event of concern or incident.)

• Consent and Information Sharing Policy
  (Explains consent, lawful information sharing, circumstances requiring disclosure, and client rights regarding their information.)

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