This Privacy Notice has been written to inform you about how Autism North East (ANE) will use your personal information when you contact us.
Personal information (also called personal data) refers to any identifiable sources of information about you, such as your email address, or answers on a referral form.
How does ANE collect my personal information?
We will only ever collect your personal information with your knowledge and permission; the majority of information we collect is provided by you for one of the following reasons:
- You have made an enquiry to us.
- You have completed a self-referral form.
- You have completed questionnaires as part of our assessment process.
- We have taken notes about you during an appointment or observation.
We may also receive your personal information indirectly if you are:
- related to one of our clients;
- involved in one of our client’s education;
- work with one of our clients;
- referred to us by a professional person or organisarion.
Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we lawfully process (collect) your personal information based on:
- Your consent: you have expressed permission for us to collect and use your personal information as part of our services. For example, when you complete a referral form.
- A contractual obligation: we need to process your personal information for us to complete our services effectively. For example, we must collect certain information if you ask us to provide services to you.
What personal information does ANE collect about me?
We only collect the information necessary to provide our services to you. In the majority of cases, we only collect the following information:
- Your contact details (such as email, home address, and telephone number).
- Health data (such as school or work observations, health questionnaires, notes from appointments, or interviews with family or carers).
- Your place of work or education.
- Your immediate family or carers.
- Your General Practitioner (GP).
Does ANE keep my personal information safe?
Yes – all digital files containing your personal information are protected by encryption and are only accessible by ANE’s small team. If any of your personal information is held physically, it is stored securely in locked premise also only accessible by ANE.
Please note: we ask that you DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES send us photographs or videos of yourself or your child in the post or via email. Photos or videos we receive will not be opened and will be deleted/destroyed immediately.
How long will ANE keep my personal information?
We will only store your personal information as long as necessary. We generally store final reports indefinitely in case they are lost and need referring back to.
Who does ANE share my personal information with?
It is necessary for us to share your personal information with a small number of people to provide our services. We will discuss this with you before and ensure you are fully informed. As a matter of course, we may share your information with:
- Your GP;
- Your employer;
- Your school or college;
- Your family or carers.
The only time we would share your information without your knowledge is if we had cause to believe you were in danger, or ordered to do so by a court or other legal authority.
What are my rights?
Under the GDPR, you are guaranteed certain rights related to your personal information:
- Right of access: you have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
- Right to rectification: you have the right to ask us to correct inaccurate personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
- Right to erasure: you have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances. As we process important information related to your mental and physical health, we are legally obliged to maintain certain records.
- Right to restriction of processing: you have the right to ask us to not to process your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Right to object to processing: you have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Right to data portability: you have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, such as your school or GP.
If you contact us to exercise one of your rights detailed above, we will respond to you within one month.
Please contact ANE at info@autismnortheast.org.uk if you wish to make a request.