Consent Policy
1. Introduction
At My Psych Ltd, your right to make informed decisions about your care is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to respecting your autonomy and ensuring you understand and agree to every part of your journey with us—whether it’s an ADHD or Autism assessment, follow-up support, or communication preferences.
This Consent Policy explains how we obtain and manage your consent throughout your care. It also outlines your right to withdraw consent and how we uphold your privacy, dignity, and choice.
2. When We Ask for Consent
We will ask for your consent:
- Before starting any assessment or treatment
- Before recording your consultation (audio and/or video)
- Before sharing any information with your GP or another third party
- Before contacting other services on your behalf (e.g. school, workplace, local authority)
- Before including you in feedback requests or service improvement activities
For children under 16, we will seek consent from a parent or legal guardian unless the child is deemed Gillick competent.
3. How We Obtain Consent
Consent may be:
- Explicit: Given clearly, either verbally or in writing (e.g., ticking a box, signing a form, saying “yes”).
- Implied: Understood through actions (e.g., providing information after being informed of its purpose).
We aim to obtain explicit consent wherever possible, especially for sensitive matters such as sharing medical data or recording consultations.
All patients (or parents/carers) will receive clear, accessible explanations about what they are consenting to, including the purpose, risks, alternatives, and their right to decline or withdraw at any time.
4. Consent for Consultation Recordings
My Psych Ltd records consultations to:
- Support clinical accuracy and quality assurance
- Support safeguarding and risk management
- Enable secure clinical review where necessary
What You Need to Know:
- Consent is always requested before recording.
- You may opt out of recording entirely or choose to disable audio, video, or both.
- Recordings are stored securely in line with GDPR and deleted when no longer needed.
- Recordings are not shared with any third party unless legally required or you give explicit written consent.
You can change your recording preferences at any time by contacting our team.
5. Sharing Your Information
We will not share your personal or health information without your consent unless:
- It is required by law (e.g. safeguarding, court order)
- It is necessary to protect life or serious harm
- You lack capacity and a best interest decision is made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005
We will always:
- Explain who we are sharing with and why
- Ask for your permission in advance
- Provide copies of shared documents if requested
6. Consent and Mental Capacity
We understand that capacity to give consent can change over time. If there is any doubt, we follow the five key principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005:
- You are supported to make your own decisions wherever possible.
- You are not treated as unable to decide just because you make an unwise decision.
- All practical steps are taken to help you understand and decide.
- Any decision made on your behalf is in your best interests.
- We use the least restrictive option possible.
7. Children and Young People
We work with families to ensure children and young people are involved in decision-making to the fullest extent possible. Where a child is not Gil-lick competent, we will seek consent from a parent or guardian.
We may still speak to and involve the young person directly, provided it is appropriate and in their best interest.
8. Withdrawing Consent
You can withdraw consent at any time—either verbally or in writing. We will respect your wishes and explain what that means for your care (e.g., we may not be able to proceed with an assessment or liaise with your GP).
To withdraw your consent, simply email: info@my-psych.co.uk or call 0333 344 3363
9. Questions or Concerns
We are committed to transparency and open communication. If you have questions about this policy or how we obtain and use your consent, please contact us:
- Email: dpo@my-psych.co.uk
- Phone: 0333 344 3363
- Address: 4 Kestrel Court, Burnley, BB11 5NA
