Policies

These statements are an overview of our website, data, research and social media policies. They summarise what we collect and how we use, disclose, transfer and store your information.

Talking Change is provided by Solent NHS Trust. The Privacy Notice in full is available to read.

Website policy

This website features 2048-bit SSL security encryption. When you use this website, we use various technologies to collect information automatically – such as your IP address. This is commonplace across all internet services to enable the investigation of issues such as service availability and the identification of malicious use. This information is then kept in our internet access logs.

We analyse information to see what is most effective about our website to help us identify ways to improve it and to make it more helpful. We may use information for other purposes, which we would describe to you at the point when we collect the information.

We also collect some personally identifiable information directly – for example, when you, or a health or social care professional actively submit your data via our online referral forms.

Our online referral forms allow confidential details to be securely submitted using 256-bit AES encryption. The data is then temporarily stored within this website before transmission using TLS protocol and RSA 4096-bit length keys, to servers on the NHS N3 network as required by NHS Digital. After transmission has been confirmed, the encrypted data is erased from the database table. The data is stored for 30 days maximum on the bacpac paywall site as a failsafe, and the data is deleted once transferred into our patient management system, which typically happens within 2 working days.

We use Sendinblue to email our newsletters. If you choose to receive our newsletters, Sendinblue will be responsible for storing and managing your name and email address only. You can unsubscribe and remove your details at any time. We recommend that you carefully review the Sendinblue Privacy Policy.

Effective date: 26/06/2020

Cookies

Cookies are small files saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website. Cookies have been placed on your device to improve your browsing experience on this website.

Cookies are used to make this website work effectively, to provide social sharing features, and for usage analytics. These cookies do not store personally identifiable information.

We do not use cookies for marketing purposes. Some cookies are used by third-party services to show you personalised content and targeted advertisements

The law states that websites can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of the site. For all other types of cookies, your permission is needed before websites can use them on your device.

Read our Cookies Policy to find out which cookies are used, and how to manage or disable them. By using this website, you consent to the use of cookies.

Data policy

Talking Change and Solent NHS Trust safely manage and share the information collected about you, in compliance with the Data Protection Act (2018) and the General Data Protection Regulation (2016).

Talking Change keeps the information that you share with us on a dedicated computer system to ensure that it is stored safely. Your information may also be accessed securely by other mental health services within Solent NHS Trust to plan and monitor your care. We may also want to share information with other professionals who need to be involved in your care, and in this event we will ask for your permission beforehand. We may need to share information with other professionals without your permission if we are concerned about your safety, the safety of another person, or you inform us that you have/or are about to commit a serious crime. Should this be the case we will discuss this with you first and involve you in the process if possible.

We will provide your GP with a copy of the letters that we send to you to keep your medical records updated, and we are required to send a limited amount of information relating to your care to NHS Digital who will remove your identifying details and use it to assist in the monitoring and the commissioning of mental health services in England.

We are proud to be an organisation that promotes and supports clinical research, whilst maintaining confidentiality. Our ‘Count Me In’ initiative means that if there is a research study or service improvement project we think you might be interested in, we will contact you to see if you would like to be involved. More information about the initiative can be found by clicking here.

If you have any questions about this policy – if you do not wish for your information to be shared with your GP, other mental health services or NHS Digital, or if you wish to opt out of the ‘Count Me In’ initiative – please contact us on 0300 123 3934.

Effective date: 21/08/2020

Social media policy

If you choose to interact with us on social media, we may receive some personally identifiable data about you, which is supplied by the channel you are using (for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube).

This may include:

• name

• social media handles (such as account name)

• location history (where you are contacting us from)

• images (such as your profile picture)

We will process and store your data in accordance with the terms and conditions and privacy policy of the platform in question. You should be aware that your use of these platforms is governed by the terms and conditions agreed between you and the platform, rather than the Talking Change website.

We may use social media management tools (such as Later) to help deliver elements of our service to you. Any personally identifiable data processed using these tools is supplied by the platforms we use, in accordance with their terms and conditions.

We will not remove, duplicate or transfer your personal data from or between any of the social platforms that we use, except for when you give us explicit permission to do so or when we believe that we need to in order to respond to an urgent risk to health.

For example, if you interact with us in a way that raises serious concerns about your mental health, we may share your personal details with local NHS services to ensure that you are offered appropriate support.

We would recommend using the privacy tools built in to the social networks in question to ensure you are able to exercise your rights appropriately.

Effective date: 03/07/2020