Addictions Support & Counselling
Privacy Notice
The type of personal information we collect when visiting our website
When someone visits www.asc.me.uk we collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site.
- We collect this information in a way which does not identify anyone.
- We do not make any attempt to find out the identities of anyone visiting our sites.
- We do not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifying information from any source.
In scenarios where we want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.
Use of cookies by ASC
Cookies are small data files which are placed on your computer when you visit certain websites.
We use cookies to help some parts of the site work and to help us make improvements by measuring things like how many visitors we have and whether visitors have viewed our webpages before. The cookies do not give us access to any personal data.
When you first visit our site, we will ask you to either accept our use of cookies or block them in your browser. If you change your mind, you can still block them at a later time.
Please be aware that blocking cookies may cause some areas of the website to function incorrectly.
You can find out how to manage cookies in different browsers via the links below:
Search engine
Search queries and results are logged anonymously to help us improve our website and search functionality. No user-specific data is collected by either ASC or any third party.
Security and performance
ASC uses a third party service to help maintain the security and performance of the ASC website. To deliver this service it processes the IP addresses of visitors to the ASC website. The IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label that computers, tablets, smartphones, and other computing devices, use to identify themselves and communicate with other devices.
People who email us
Any email sent to us, including any attachments, may be monitored and used by us for reasons of security and for monitoring compliance with office policy. Email monitoring or blocking software may also be used. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send to us is within the bounds of the law.
How we get personal information and why we have it
Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you, for one of the following main reasons (please note that this list is not exhaustive):
- Requesting information about ASC’s services
- Requesting to use one of ASC’s services
- Referring yourself or others to ASC
- Contacting ASC to refer yourself or others to other suitable support services
- Offering services to ASC
We also receive personal information indirectly when we receive referrals from other organisations. We always ask that referrals sent to ASC are done with the consent of the person who wishes to access our services
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information are:
- Your consent. You are able to remove your consent at any time. You can do this by contacting us on enquiries@asc.me.uk
- We have a contractual obligation.
- We have a legal obligation.
- We have a vital interest.
- We need it to perform a public task.
- We have a legitimate interest.
ASC has also identified the legal basis from Article 9 of the GDPR for processing of special category data on employees. This is employment and social security law Article 9(2)(b).
People who use ASC services
ASC offers a variety of services to local communities, individuals and families including young people, adults and general members of the public.
The personal information we hold on people who use our services will include their contact details, details on why they are receiving support from us and details of their contact with us. However, we only use this information to provide the service the person has requested and for other closely related purposes. For example, we might use information about people who have requested some of our service materials to find out if they would like further support from us. There may be occasions where we will share data with other organisations involved in supporting people who use our services this is done by the consent of the people who wish to receive support from other organisations.
We ask our service users how they would like us to stay in touch with them during their treatment. Service users can update this information on their preferred contact methods at any time.
We normally retain our service user’s paper records for five years after they finish treatment with ASC, after which we securely shred these records through a third party specialised service. Service users’ electronic records are kept for twenty years, after they finish treatment with ASC and securely deleted afterwards.
All information held by ASC in this regard is subject to strict data protection principles to ensure the security, access based on “Need to Know basis”, consistent management and compliance to Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) standards are maintained at all times due to the confidential nature of the data filed.
ASC has measures in place to ensure the security of data collected and only processes personal information in line with our policies and procedures.
There may be occasions where we will share data with other organisations involved in supporting people who use our services. This information sharing is done by the consent of our services users. However, in rare occasions, information might be shared with emergency services and other relevant services when there is a significant risk of harm to self and/or others.
How we store your personal information
Information collected by ASC is securely stored on our servers that are protected by multi layers of passwords and security measures.
Your data protection rights
Under data protection law, you have rights including:
- Your right of access – You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
- Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
- Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Your right to object to processing – You have the the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.
You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. Please contact us on enquiries@asc.me.uk if you wish to make a request.
How to complain
ASC tries to meet the highest standards when collecting and using personal information. For this reason, we take any complaints we receive about this very seriously. We encourage people to bring it to our attention if they think that our collection or use of information is unfair, misleading or inappropriate. We would also welcome any suggestions for improving our procedures. This privacy notice does not provide exhaustive detail of all aspects of ASC’s collection and use of personal information. However, we are happy to provide any additional information or explanation needed. Any requests for this should be sent to enquiries@asc.me.uk
If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint by writing directly to the Chief Executive officer of ASC on chiefexec@asc.me.uk
You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.
The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
Posted in: Privacy Notice