Introduction
Devon Counselling College is committed to protecting your privacy and security. This policy explains how and why we use your personal data and ensure you remain informed and in control of your information.
DCC will only utilise your data after receiving your agreement in writing. If you decide to be on our database to receive information regarding our training and other associated communication at any time, you can choose to:
- No longer receive communications from us and be removed from our systems
- Update information on request
- Request an outline of what information we hold on you
We are also committed to keeping you informed in the unlikely event of a data breach and to:
- Not hold information for longer than ‘necessary.’
- Maintain a regular review of all data we process
- Never sell your personal data
- We will not share data with any other organisations
You can decide not to receive communications or change how we contact you at any time. Don’t hesitate to contact us here if you wish to do so or have any questions concerning this policy or how we use your personal data.
About us
Devon Counselling College will collect and use your personal data (i.e. any information which identifies you or can be identified as relating to you personally). Data controller number: ZB398086.
What information we collect – Personal data you provide
When joining a course or asking to be included in our communication database, we collect the data you provide. We hold examples of the following information:
- Personal details (name, email, address, telephone, etc., emergency contacts and any information relevant to your well-being)
- Financial information (payment information such as outstanding balances)
- Details of any courses you have attended, your interests and preferences
How we use information
We only ever use your personal data with your consent or where it is necessary to:
- Enter into or perform a contract with you
- Comply with a legal duty
- Protect your vital interests
- For our own (or a third party’s) lawful interests, provided your rights don’t override these.
Reference Requests
Please be aware that we are not obliged to provide references for current or past learners and will only give a reference to an outside agency if you have requested this in writing. In any event, we’ll only use your information for the purpose or purposes it was collected for (or else for closely related purposes).
Marketing
We use personal data to communicate with people and promote Devon Counselling College, including keeping you up to date with our upcoming courses.
Administration
We use personal data for administrative purposes (i.e. to carry on our business activities). This includes:
- Performing our obligations under learner’s contracts
- Managing finances – course payments and instalments
- Maintaining learner/supervisor/counsellor contact details, referee details
How we protect data
We employ various physical and technical measures to keep your data safe and prevent unauthorised access to, use, or disclosure of your personal information.
Electronic data and databases are stored on secure computer systems, and we control who has access to information (using both physical and electronic means).
Storage
Where we store information
Devon Counselling College is based in the UK, and we store our data within the European Union.
How long we store information
How long information will be stored depends on the information in question and what it is being used for. We will only use and store information for so long as it is required for the purposes it was collected for. For example, if you ask us not to send you marketing emails, we will stop storing your emails for marketing purposes (though we’ll keep a record of your preference not to be emailed).
We continually review what information we hold and delete what is no longer required. We never store payment card information.
Keeping you in control
We want to ensure you remain in control of your personal data. Part of this is making sure you understand your legal rights, which are as follows:
- The right to confirmation as to whether or not we have your personal data and, if we do, to obtain a copy of the personal information we hold (this is known as a subject access request)
- The right to have your data erased (though this will not apply where we must continue to use the data for a lawful reason)
- The right to have inaccurate data rectified
Please keep in mind that there are exceptions to the rights above, and though we will always try to respond to your satisfaction, there may be situations where we cannot do so.
If you would like further information on your rights or wish to exercise them, please write to our Data Protection Officer at Devon Counselling College, 2 Sheila Robb House, Oak Place, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2EX.
Complaints
You can complain to the Devon Counselling College directly by contacting our data protection officer using the details set out above.
If you are not happy with our response or believe that your data protection or privacy rights have been infringed. In that case, you can complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, which regulates and enforces data protection law in the UK. Details of how to do this can be found at www.ico.org.uk.
Links to other sites
Our website contains hyperlinks to other websites. We are not responsible for the content or functionality of any of those external websites (but please let us know if a link is not working by using the contact form on our website.
If an external website requests personal information from you (e.g. in connection with an order for goods or services), the information you provide will not be covered by Devon Counselling College’s Privacy Policy. We suggest you read the privacy policy of any website before providing any personal information.
When purchasing goods or services from businesses our site links to, you will enter into a contract with them (agreeing to their terms and conditions) and not with DCC.
DCC uses Google Analytics to track visits to our site; please see the Google Privacy policy for more information.