At CARE Waitākere, we respect your privacy and are committed to ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect the information you share with us, in line with New Zealand’s Privacy Act.

 

1. Collection and Use of Information

 

We collect personal information from you only when it is necessary to provide our services. This information may include:

   - Your contact details, background, and any relevant personal history

   - Session notes and records relevant to your support, assessment, or treatment

   - Information you share that is needed for us to best provide our services

 

Your information will be used solely to support your engagement with our services, coordinate care, ensure continuity of support, and meet regulatory requirements. We will not disclose your information without your consent, except in specific circumstances as required by law, such as cases of serious harm or risk to self or others.

 

2. Storage and Protection of Information

 

Your information will be stored securely in our client management system, Splose, and will only be accessible to authorized personnel. We take all reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse by implementing robust security measures, including encrypted systems and restricted access protocols.

 

Your information will be retained in compliance with the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. We will keep your data for as long as necessary to provide our services or as required by law.

 

3. Access by Administrators and Management

Administrators and management at CARE Waitākere may need to access your information for specific purposes, such as scheduling, administrative support, quality assurance, and oversight of service delivery. Access is restricted to only what is necessary for these tasks, and all personnel follow strict confidentiality agreements and privacy practices.

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4. Auditing and Quality Assurance

Occasionally, our records and processes may be audited to ensure compliance with legal requirements, quality standards, and ethical practices. During these audits, auditors will review records to verify that CARE Waitākere is providing high-quality, compliant services. These audits are conducted by external or internal qualified auditors bound by confidentiality agreements, and they only access data required for the audit. All auditing processes align with New Zealand’s privacy laws, and auditors do not retain personal data beyond the audit’s needs.

 

5. Your Rights

 

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have rights concerning your personal information:

   - You have the right to request access to your personal information.

   - You can request corrections to any inaccuracies in your information.

   - You may withdraw your consent at any time, understanding that this may impact the services we can provide.

 

If you have questions or concerns about how your information is handled, please contact our Privacy Officer at CARE Waitākere. You can do so by emailing our admin team on admin@carewaitakere.org.nz or phoning 09 834 6480.